Includes Bay-winged Hawk
- Parabuteo unicinctus
Identification
Length 46-76cm (18-30"), WS 107cm (42"), Wt. 900gm (2lb). Blackish brown plumage with chestnut forewings (above and below) and thighs. The end of the tail and the rump are white, with distinctive black band between. Females are typically 10% larger than males. Juveniles are similar in appearance, but have streaking common in this family.
The southernmost form (Bay-winged Hawk) remains streaked on underside and paler, streaked head even as adult, and is fairly pale on underside as juvenile.
Distribution
Sonoran desert of the southwest USA and Mexico, Baja Penisula, Gulf Coast from central coastline of Texas southward through Mexico to Chile and Argentina. This species is absent from much of eastern South America
Taxonomy
Photo by: Rodrigo Reyes
Location: La Campana National Park, Chile, February 2005
There are three subspecies: P. u. superior in Baja California, Arizona, Sonora, and Sinaloa (contested);
P. u. harrisi in Texas, eastern Mexico, Central America and northern South America; and P. u. unicinctus in southern South America.
The unicinctus subspecies has been suggested for full species status, where the name would become Bay-winged Hawk; this form does not perform the team hunting described below.
Habitat
Sparse woodland and semi-desert, as well as marshes.
Behaviour
An unusual behavior in its family is team hunting; birds will cooperate in taking prey, often taking perches in what seems like a strategic manner to confuse and herd its prey before one of the group strikes. This allows it to take larger prey such as jackrabbits. Teams can comprise 2 to 6 individuals. Other prey includes rodents, lizards, and birds.
It nests in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs, incubated for 28 days to hatching. This is a popular bird in the sport of falconry, as it is easily tamed and trained.
References
- Peregrine Fund
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Alvaro Jaramillo. 2003. Birds of Chile. Princeton Field Guides. ISBN 0-691-11740-3
