(Main picture changed. Photos of Juvenile & flight added. References) |
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Male: 18 - 20 in. Female: 20 - 22 in. | Male: 18 - 20 in. Female: 20 - 22 in. | ||
| − | *White tail with black sub-terminal band<br /> | + | *White tail with black sub-terminal band but otherwise very variable in plumage |
| + | *Lacks black commas or larger black marks seen on wing underside at the wrist of most similar species <br /> | ||
'''Male''' | '''Male''' | ||
| − | *Grey back | + | *Grey back (mantle can be reddish on some individuals) |
| − | * | + | *White or dark grey underparts<br /> |
| − | '''Female''': usually have a rufous | + | '''Female''': usually have a rufous mantle but may have either white or rufous or rufous-and-black underparts. |
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | The best separator from [[Puna Hawk]] is that the wings fall short of the tip of the tail on the sitting bird, Puna Hawk has wingtips that reach the tip of the tail. | ||
[[Image:18681YoungRedBack.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|zweiblumen|zweiblumen}}<br />Cape Pembroke, [[Falkland Islands]], April 2004]] | [[Image:18681YoungRedBack.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|zweiblumen|zweiblumen}}<br />Cape Pembroke, [[Falkland Islands]], April 2004]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[South America]]: found in [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], [[ | + | [[South America]]: found in [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], [[Argentina]], and [[Falkland Islands]];vagrant to [[Uruguay]], [[Brazil]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
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* ''B. p. polyosoma'' - Andes of southern [[Colombia]] south to Tierra del Fuego, and [[Falkland Islands]] | * ''B. p. polyosoma'' - Andes of southern [[Colombia]] south to Tierra del Fuego, and [[Falkland Islands]] | ||
* ''B. p. exsul'' - Juan Fernadez Islands, [[Chile]] | * ''B. p. exsul'' - Juan Fernadez Islands, [[Chile]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is an active debate as to whether [[Red-backed Hawk]] and [[Puna Hawk]] are two species or one. Opus follows a consensus according to which it is two, but for example the South American Classification Committee has a majority for treating them as one. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Open areas to open forest, but most likely in areas with scrub and some trees in steep terrain. Observed at heights up to around 3000 meters in the north of its range, lower down further south. Where overlapping with [[Puna Hawk]], Red-backed Hawk is normally seen at lower elevation than its close relative. | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
[[Image:10884IMG 9491 Buteo polyosoma.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|BirdsPeru|BirdsPeru}}<br />High Andes, Lima, [[Peru]], November 2006 ]] | [[Image:10884IMG 9491 Buteo polyosoma.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|BirdsPeru|BirdsPeru}}<br />High Andes, Lima, [[Peru]], November 2006 ]] | ||
| − | + | Most of the food consists of mammals. | |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
It nests in treetops. The nest is large and made of dry sticks. The clutch generally consists of 2 white eggs with light reddish spots. | It nests in treetops. The nest is large and made of dry sticks. The clutch generally consists of 2 white eggs with light reddish spots. | ||
| Line 28: | Line 34: | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}}#Avibase | #{{Ref-Clements6thOct07}}#Avibase | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
| + | # Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156 | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Buteo+polyosoma}} | {{GSearch|Buteo+polyosoma}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Buteo]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Buteo]] | ||
Revision as of 02:36, 9 May 2010
Alternative name: Variable Hawk
- Buteo polyosoma
Identification
Male: 18 - 20 in. Female: 20 - 22 in.
- White tail with black sub-terminal band but otherwise very variable in plumage
- Lacks black commas or larger black marks seen on wing underside at the wrist of most similar species
Male
- Grey back (mantle can be reddish on some individuals)
- White or dark grey underparts
Female: usually have a rufous mantle but may have either white or rufous or rufous-and-black underparts.
Similar species
The best separator from Puna Hawk is that the wings fall short of the tip of the tail on the sitting bird, Puna Hawk has wingtips that reach the tip of the tail.
Distribution
South America: found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Falkland Islands;vagrant to Uruguay, Brazil.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
Two subspecies are recognized:
- B. p. polyosoma - Andes of southern Colombia south to Tierra del Fuego, and Falkland Islands
- B. p. exsul - Juan Fernadez Islands, Chile
There is an active debate as to whether Red-backed Hawk and Puna Hawk are two species or one. Opus follows a consensus according to which it is two, but for example the South American Classification Committee has a majority for treating them as one.
Habitat
Open areas to open forest, but most likely in areas with scrub and some trees in steep terrain. Observed at heights up to around 3000 meters in the north of its range, lower down further south. Where overlapping with Puna Hawk, Red-backed Hawk is normally seen at lower elevation than its close relative.
Behaviour
Diet
Most of the food consists of mammals.
Breeding
It nests in treetops. The nest is large and made of dry sticks. The clutch generally consists of 2 white eggs with light reddish spots.
References
- Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
- Avibase
- BF Member observations
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Variable Hawk. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Variable_Hawk
