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+ | '''Alternative name: Variable Hawk''' | ||
;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] polyosoma | ;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] polyosoma | ||
[[Image:Red-backed_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Peter Bono.<br/>A dark phase bird framegrabbed from video taken on the road to Portillo Pass, northeast of Santiago, Chile, in February 2003.]] | [[Image:Red-backed_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Peter Bono.<br/>A dark phase bird framegrabbed from video taken on the road to Portillo Pass, northeast of Santiago, Chile, in February 2003.]] |
Revision as of 01:59, 7 July 2008
Alternative name: Variable Hawk
- Buteo polyosoma
Identification
This bird has a white tail and a black sub-terminal band. Males have grey backs with largely grey or white underparts. The larger females typically have a rufous back but can have either white or rufous underparts. Male: 18 - 20 in. Female: 20 - 22 in.
Distribution
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Peru, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.
Behaviour
This bird catches its prey on the wing, and eats mammals, birds, reptiles and snails. It likes to sit on the highest branches of trees or edges of ravines.
Breeding
It nests in treetops. The nest is large and made of dry sticks; generally with 2 white with light reddish spots eggs are laid.