• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Common Black Hawk" - BirdForum Opus

m
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:Common_Black_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Big Bend National Park]], [[Texas]], [[USA]], March 2004]]
 
[[Image:Common_Black_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Big Bend National Park]], [[Texas]], [[USA]], March 2004]]
 
;[[:Category:Buteogallus|Buteogallus]] anthracinus
 
;[[:Category:Buteogallus|Buteogallus]] anthracinus
'''Includes: Cuban Black Hawk; Mangrove Black Hawk'''
+
'''Includes: Mangrove Black Hawk'''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
Length 50-58cm (20-23"), wingspan 122-127cm (48-50")<br />
 
Length 50-58cm (20-23"), wingspan 122-127cm (48-50")<br />
 
As the name implies, this is a very dark hawk; dark brown to almost black, with a yellow bill tipped in black, and some white spotting on the base of the primary flight feathers, and at the tip of the tail. In its limited US range, it is most easily identified by chunky shape and broad white band crossing middle of tail. Further south compare the [[Great Black Hawk]] and the rare [[Solitary Eagle]].
 
As the name implies, this is a very dark hawk; dark brown to almost black, with a yellow bill tipped in black, and some white spotting on the base of the primary flight feathers, and at the tip of the tail. In its limited US range, it is most easily identified by chunky shape and broad white band crossing middle of tail. Further south compare the [[Great Black Hawk]] and the rare [[Solitary Eagle]].
[[Image:Cuban blackhawk.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Cuban Black Hawk<br />Photo by {{user|mrmike|mrmike}}<br />[[Cuba]], January 2007]]
+
[[Image:Mangrove_Black_Hawk.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Mangrove Black Hawk<br/>Photo by {{user|rb_stern |rb_stern }}rb_stern <br/>Playa Blanca, [[Panama]] ]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Found in coastal regions of northern and north-western [[South America]], incl. [[Trinidad]] & [[Tobago]], north through [[Central America]] and [[Mexico]], to southernmost [[USA]] ([[Arizona]] and [[Texas]]). Generally resident, but some local movements, and only a summer visitor to south-eastern Arizona. Also seen along border section of Rio Grande River, notably in Big Bend NP, in winter.  Very rare visitor to lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. A resident population also occurs on [[Cuba]].
+
Found in coastal regions of northern and north-western [[South America]], incl. [[Trinidad]] & [[Tobago]], north through [[Central America]] and [[Mexico]], to southernmost [[USA]] ([[Arizona]] and [[Texas]]). Generally resident, but some local movements, and only a summer visitor to south-eastern Arizona. Also seen along border section of Rio Grande River, notably in Big Bend NP, in winter.  Very rare visitor to lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
 
====Conservation Status====  
 
====Conservation Status====  
 
Overall common and widespread. In its limited US range it is rare and local, with an estimated 250 breeding pairs remaining.  
 
Overall common and widespread. In its limited US range it is rare and local, with an estimated 250 breeding pairs remaining.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Recent evidence strongly suggests that the population on Cuba should be considered a separate species, the Cuban Black Hawk (''Buteogallus gundlachii''). On the contrary, recent evidence strongly suggests that the Mangrove Black Hawk should be considered a subspecies, ''B. anthracinus subtilis'', this lump is now accepted by Clements and the IOC and therefore also in the Opus.
+
Recent evidence strongly suggests that the population on Cuba should be considered a separate species, the [[Cuban Black Hawk]] (''Buteogallus gundlachii''). On the contrary, recent evidence strongly suggests that the Mangrove Black Hawk should be considered a subspecies, ''B. anthracinus subtilis'', this lump is now accepted by Clements and the IOC and therefore also in the Opus.
[[Image:Mangrove_Black_Hawk.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Mangrove Black Hawk<br/>Photo by {{user|rb_stern |rb_stern }}rb_stern <br/>Playa Blanca, [[Panama]] ]]
 
 
[[Image:4381Common Black Hawk in flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Arima Valley, Northern [[Trinidad]], May 2006]]
 
[[Image:4381Common Black Hawk in flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Arima Valley, Northern [[Trinidad]], May 2006]]
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
 
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
Line 25: Line 24:
 
*''B. a. subtilis'':
 
*''B. a. subtilis'':
 
:*Pacific coast of [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]] and extreme northern [[Peru]]
 
:*Pacific coast of [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]] and extreme northern [[Peru]]
* ''B. a. subtilis''
 
:*Restricted to the Pacific coast of eastern [[Panama]] south to north-western [[Peru]]
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Wide range of wooded habitats, especially in coastal areas. In the northernmost parts of its range, nests most commonly in cottonwood trees in riparian areas.  
 
Wide range of wooded habitats, especially in coastal areas. In the northernmost parts of its range, nests most commonly in cottonwood trees in riparian areas.  

Revision as of 19:29, 11 January 2011

Buteogallus anthracinus

Includes: Mangrove Black Hawk

Identification

Length 50-58cm (20-23"), wingspan 122-127cm (48-50")
As the name implies, this is a very dark hawk; dark brown to almost black, with a yellow bill tipped in black, and some white spotting on the base of the primary flight feathers, and at the tip of the tail. In its limited US range, it is most easily identified by chunky shape and broad white band crossing middle of tail. Further south compare the Great Black Hawk and the rare Solitary Eagle.

Mangrove Black Hawk
Photo by rb_stern rb_stern
Playa Blanca, Panama

Distribution

Found in coastal regions of northern and north-western South America, incl. Trinidad & Tobago, north through Central America and Mexico, to southernmost USA (Arizona and Texas). Generally resident, but some local movements, and only a summer visitor to south-eastern Arizona. Also seen along border section of Rio Grande River, notably in Big Bend NP, in winter. Very rare visitor to lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Conservation Status

Overall common and widespread. In its limited US range it is rare and local, with an estimated 250 breeding pairs remaining.

Taxonomy

Recent evidence strongly suggests that the population on Cuba should be considered a separate species, the Cuban Black Hawk (Buteogallus gundlachii). On the contrary, recent evidence strongly suggests that the Mangrove Black Hawk should be considered a subspecies, B. anthracinus subtilis, this lump is now accepted by Clements and the IOC and therefore also in the Opus.

Photo by Steve G
Arima Valley, Northern Trinidad, May 2006

Subspecies[1]

  • B. a. anthracinus:
  • B. a. utilensis:
  • Cancún, Cozumel Island and islands in Gulf of Honduras
  • B. a. rhizophorae:
  • B. a. bangsi:
  • B. a. subtilis:

Habitat

Wide range of wooded habitats, especially in coastal areas. In the northernmost parts of its range, nests most commonly in cottonwood trees in riparian areas.

Behaviour

Gentle and lethargic except while nesting, when it often drops out of the skies from great height.

Breeding

It builds a large stick nest in a tree, and usually lays one dark-blotched whitish egg. Will abandon nest if disturbed too much.

Diet

Diet includes crabs, and small vertebrates and eggs.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2010. IOC World Bird Names (version 2.7). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

Recommended Citation

External Links


Back
Top