- Buteo nitidus
Identification
38–46 cm (15-18 in)
Adults
- Gray and white barred underparts
- Broadly white-banded black tail
Similar Species
Very similar to Gray Hawk and their ranges may be adjacent or overlapping in Costa Rica.
Distribution
From southwest-most Costa Rica, through Panama and most of lowland North and Central South America, as far south as South West Ecuador on the Pacific coast and North Argentina east of the Andes.
Taxonomy
Gray Hawk, Buteo plagiatus, was formerly considered conspecific with this species. The common name for the species was Gray Hawk then.
Asturina vs. Buteo
Formerly placed in the monotypic genus Asturina. Riesing et al. (2003) presented genetic data indicating that Asturina is nested within Buteo. This reclassification is supported by virtually all authorities since then: Banks et al. (2006), AOU (2006 supplement), Clements (2007), SACC (2006). The Opus follows in this consensus.
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- B. n. blakei (formerly costaricensis):
- southwest Costa Rica to northern Colombia and western Ecuador
- B. n. nitidus:
- B. n. pallidus:
Habitat
Woodland and forest, but sometimes in more open habitats with scattered trees. Mainly in lowlands, but locally up to 1800 m (5900 ft). Generally fairly common, but rarer in its limited US range.
Behavior
Diet
Feeds on a wide range of small animals, mostly reptiles, but also birds, rodents and insects.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2012. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Gray Hawk
- Birdforum thread discussing AOU proposals including one to split Gray Hawk in two parts
- Paper describing the differences between Gray Hawk and Gray-lined Hawk
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Gray-lined Hawk. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Gray-lined_Hawk
