Ridgway's hawk
Ridgway's hawk | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Genus: | Buteo |
Species: | B. ridgwayi
|
Binomial name | |
Buteo ridgwayi (Cory, 1883)
| |
Range in green | |
Synonyms | |
Rupornis ridgwayi |
Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae endemic to the island of Hispaniola (both Haiti and the Dominican Republic) in the Caribbean. It is classified as Critically Endangered because of habitat destruction and human persecution in the Dominican Republic; however, due to conservation efforts, the population is now increasing.[1]
It is named in honour of the ornithologist Robert Ridgway.
Description
B. ridgwayi is a medium-sized, compact hawk, measuring 36–41 cm long. The adult has brown-grey upperparts and greyish barred underparts, with a reddish-brown wash, rufous-tinged thighs, and a black-and-white barred tail. The male is greyer than the female, and the legs and the base of bill are yellow.
Diet and breeding
Ridgway's hawk feeds on rodents, bats, centipedes, birds,
Distribution
Ridgway's hawk's original breeding range included all of the island of Hispaniola and some of the adjacent isles and keys, such as
Conservation
This bird is described as critically endangered, due to clearance of its forest habitat and persecution by local farmers, who claim that the species preys upon their
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola. Proyecto de Educación para la Conservación del Gavilán de la Hispaniola. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
- The Peregrine Fund. West Indies Project—Conservation Projects. Retrieved on 6 February 2007. Detailed info of on-going field studies.
- Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada. Threatened Species of the Dominican Republic Progress Report 2005.