Broad-winged hawk
Broad-winged hawk | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Genus: | Buteo |
Species: | B. platypterus
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Binomial name | |
Buteo platypterus (Vieillot, 1823)
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Global map of eBird reports of this species Year-Round Range Summer Range Winter Range
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The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil.[2] Other subspecies are all-year residents on Caribbean islands.[3] As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males. Broad-winged hawks' wings are relatively short and broad with a tapered, somewhat pointed appearance. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad-winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation.
Description
The broad-winged hawk is a relatively small Buteo, with a body size from 32 to 44 cm (13 to 17 in) in length and weighing 265 to 560 g (9.3 to 19.8 oz). The tail is relatively short, measuring 14.5–19.0 cm (5.7–7.5 in) in length. The tarsus measures from 5.6 to 6.6 cm (2.2 to 2.6 in).[4][5] As in most raptors, females are slightly larger than males.[6] Broad-winged hawks have relatively short and broad wings, pointed at the end, which have a tapered appearance unique to the species. The wingspan can range from 74 to 100 cm (29 to 39 in), with the extended wing bone (standard measurement) measuring 22.7–30 cm (8.9–11.8 in).[5]
An adult's body is a dark brown with a white belly and chest containing horizontal barring. Its tail can be a dark grey-black with white lines along the middle, base, and tip.[5] The young hawks have a slightly different coloring with more white and longitudinal barring instead of horizontal barring. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall.[2] The light morph of this bird is most likely to be confused with the red-shouldered hawk, which has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult, which are usually distinctive.[2] Rare dark morphs are a darker brown on both upperparts and underparts. Dark-morph short-tailed hawks are similar, but are whitish under the tail with a single subterminal band.[5]
Taxonomy
This species, Buteo platypterus, is in the family Accipitridae, which is placed in the order Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes). Currently, the species is split into six subspecies;[7] each is named for its distribution,[8]
- B. p. platypterus – (Vieillot, 1823): The northern broad-winged hawk occurs throughout much of continental eastern North America.
- karst forests of Puerto Rico.[9]
- B. p. cubanensis – Burns, 1911: The Cuban broad-winged hawk occurs on Cuba.
- B. p. insulicola – Riley, 1908: The Antigua broad-winged hawk occurs on Antigua.
- B. p. rivierei – Verrill, AH, 1905: The Dominican broad-winged hawk occurs on St. Lucia.
- B. p. antillarum – Clark, AH, 1905: The Antillean broad-winged hawk occurs in the , excluding Antigua.
Habitat and distribution
Broad-winged hawks have a wide range in
Broad-winged hawks stay in areas up to an elevation around 2,000 m (6,600 ft). They breed in
Although it is declining in some areas because of forest fragmentation, its numbers are relatively stable and is assessed as
Behavior
Vocalization
These hawks use vocalizations for communication with their mates and offspring, and in territorial displays towards intruders such as red-tailed hawks or other threatening animals. Their call sounds like a very high-pitched kee-ee, almost like a whistle.[15] Fledglings learn to emit the call by the time they are one month old.[16] When confronted with a threat, broad-winged hawks emit an alarm call consisting of stuttered and squealing whistles.[citation needed]
Diet
Broad-winged hawks are
Reproduction
These birds have only one mate during the breeding season, possibly because the male also helps a small amount with the rearing of the chicks.[23] They breed between April and August, starting when they reach sexual maturity at about two years old.[23]
To attract and court females, the males perform a courtship display flight including cartwheels, dives, and other aerial acrobatics. Birds meet in the air, hook their feet together and spiral down together.[24] They also compete and fight with other males for the chance to mate with a female. If one of the males is successful, the mating pair has only one brood that season, consisting of one to four eggs.[23]
Both the male and female build the nest out of sticks and twigs in a
The hatchlings will appear semi
Once a prey item is obtained for the nest, the female tears off pieces and feeds the chicks until they are able to rip meat off on their own. Often, the chicks fight for possession of the offered morsel, the younger ones usually losing and not getting enough.[26]
Broad-winged hawks protect their nests in a show of aggression (i.e. diving and chasing) towards any suspected threat, but they generally do not make physical contact.
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Lepage, D. (2003). "Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)". Avibase."Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)". Avibase.
- ^ "Broad-winged Hawk". Bird Watcher's Digest. 14 June 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Broad-winged Hawk". All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-618-12762-7.
- JSTOR 3544764.
- ^ a b Goodrich, L. J.; Crocoll, S.C.; Senner, S.E. (1996). Poole, A. (ed.). "Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)". The Birds of North America Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- ^ "Broad-winged Hawk - Introduction - Neotropical Birds Online". neotropical.birds.cornell.edu. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Hengstenberg, D.W.; Vilella, F.J. (2005). "Nesting ecology and behaviour of Broad-winged Hawks in moist karst forest of Puerto Rico" (PDF). Journal of Raptor Research. 39 (4): 404–416.
- ISBN 978-0-8014-9600-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7136-6418-8.
- The Auk. 102 (4): 735–743.
- S2CID 86218689.
- ^ a b Ivory, A.; Kirschbaum, K. (1999). "Buteo platypterus". Animal diversity web. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- JSTOR 4154375.
- JSTOR 4084510.
- ^ "Buteo platypterus (Broad-winged hawk)". Animal Diversity Web.
- ^ a b Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
- JSTOR 1366347.
- ^ "Broad-winged Hawk | the Peregrine Fund".
- ^ "Buteo platypterus (Broad-winged hawk)". Animal Diversity Web.
- ^ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
- ^ The Auk. 91 (2): 307–324.
- doi:10.5962/p.357589.
- ^ a b Lyons, D.M.; Mosher, J.A. (1987). "Morphological growth, behavioural development and parental care of Broad-winged hawks" (PDF). Journal of Field Ornithology. 58 (3): 334–344.
- .
- ISSN 0892-1016.
External links
- Broad-winged Hawk: Wind-surfers of the sky – Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
- "Broad-winged hawk media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Broad-winged hawk photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Stamps[usurped] for Antigua, Colombia, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at bird-stamps.org[usurped]
- Broad-winged hawk species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
- Interactive range map of Buteo platypterus at IUCN Red List maps
Historical material
- "Falco pennsylvanicus, Broad-winged Hawk"; in American Ornithology 2nd edition, volume 1 (1828) by Alexander Wilson and George Ord.
- "The Broad-winged Hawk", John James Audubon, Ornithological Biography volume 1 (1831). Illustration from Birds of America octavo edition, 1840.
- "Broad-winged Hawk", Thomas Nuttall, A manual of the ornithology of the United States and of Canada; volume 1, The Land Birds (1832).