Panama - Bocas del Toro: Common Black Hawk? (1 Viewer)

[Mario-F]

Dear users,

I took this picture on August 14th 2018 at the Isla Bastimentos (Bocas del Toro, Panama) during heavy rain.

Is it a Common Black Hawk?

Thanks in advance!
Mario

 

[Andy Adcock]

Looks big, maybe Great Black Hawk?

 

[njlarsen]

Isn't Great BH in that area expected to have blue-grey on the bill rather than yellow?

Niels

 

[Andy Adcock]

Isn't Great BH in that area expected to have blue-grey on the bill rather than yellow?

Niels

Lores not bill.

 

[njlarsen]

Compare this GBH which shows much less yellow on bill/lores than the OP bird. It does come from a different part of Panama, and I am not exactly sure about the distribution of the types within the country. https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=418776

Niels

 

[pbjosh]

This is Common Black Hawk. In Central America, the bill color is pretty reliable for ID. In both species, the cere (fleshy base of the bill) is yellowish, though frequently more yellow in Common and duller/more gray in Great Black Hawk. Both species can show a bit of a bare cheek, though it's more common, I believe, in Common Black Hawk. However, looking at just the bill, and in Central America - a yellow base to the bill is diagnostic for Common Black Hawk. I think if you have a bill that is all black to the cere, it is -near- diagnostic for Great Black Hawk but other features should be considered to be sure.

Also of note, Common Black Hawk is by far the more common species in Bocas del Toro.

For reference, a great article by John van Dort on Common vs Great Black Hawk ID. Beware that the given field marks and ID criteria do not apply in Eastern Panamá and in South America.

https://ebird.org/camerica/news/id-challenges-the-buteogallus-hawks

 

[Mario-F]

Thank you all for your opinions on this bird!
In my memory the bird was not that big, at least not big enough for a Great Black Hawk, which I saw at another location during our journey!