Hawaiian hawk

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hawaiian hawk
At Honolulu Zoo, Hawaii

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]

Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species:
B. solitarius
Binomial name
Buteo solitarius
Peale, 1849

The Hawaiian hawk or ʻio (Buteo solitarius) is a

Near Threatened.[1]NatureServe considers the species Vulnerable.[2]

Description

The Hawaiian hawk measures approximately 40 to 46 centimetres (16 to 18 in) in length. The female, which weighs 605 g (21.3 oz) on average, is larger than the male, which averages 441 g (15.6 oz).[5] Two color phases exist: a dark phase (dark brown head, breast, and underwings), and a light color phase (dark head, light breast and light underwings). Feet and legs are yellowish in adults and greenish in juveniles. During breeding season one of the pair, possibly the female, has a distinctive yellow forecap area just above the upper mandible.

Threats

Common threats to the ʻio are illegal shootings, the degradation of their native forest habitat, poisoning, vehicle collisions, starvation, and predation from other animals.

Lifestyle

This solitary hawk remains in and defends its territories year round. They nest from March through September, and usually lay only one

egg but sometimes they could lay up to three in their clutch. The female does the majority of sitting during the 38 days of incubation, while the male does the majority of the hunting. After the egg is hatched, the female only allows the male to visit when delivering food to the nest. The chick fledges
at seven or eight weeks. Fifty to seventy percent of the nests successfully fledge young.

The ʻio usually hunts from a stationary position, but can also dive on prey from the air. Due to Hawaii having almost no native land

predators
and are versatile in their feeding habits. They have a shrill and high-pitched call much like their Hawaiian name: "eeeh-oh." They are very noisy during the breeding season. ʻIo are strong fliers.

In Hawaiian culture

The Hawaiian hawk was one of many birds unleashed in the third period of creation (wā) mentioned in the

ʻIolani Palace
.

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695929A93534506.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Buteo solitarius. NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. ^ "ʻIo" (PDF). Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. State of Hawaiʻi. 2005-10-01. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  4. ^ "Newsroom | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service".
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2012-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ISBN 0-8248-0771-5
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buteo solitarius.
Wikispecies has information related to Buteo solitarius.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hawaiian_hawk&oldid=1180166288"