Common black hawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common black hawk |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Buteo. anthracinus subtilis | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Buteogallus
|
| Species: |
anthracinus
|
| Subspecies | |
|
|
 |
|
The common black hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) is a cool bird of prey. It belongs to the Accipitridae family. This family also includes other amazing birds like eagles and hawks.
What was once called the mangrove black hawk is now considered a type of common black hawk. Its scientific name is B. a. subtilis.
Contents
Description
The adult common black hawk is about 43–53 cm (17–21 in) long. This is roughly the length of a school ruler and a half. It usually weighs around 930 g (33 oz). This is about the same as a small bag of sugar.
These birds have very wide wings. They are mostly black or a dark gray color. Their short tail is black with one wide white band and a white tip. The hawk's beak is black, and its legs and a part of its face called the cere are yellow.
Adult common black hawks look a bit like zone-tailed hawks. However, common black hawks have fewer white stripes on their tail. They are also larger in size.
Male and female common black hawks look similar. But young birds are different. They are dark brown on top with spots and streaks. Their undersides are a light yellow-brown to whitish color with dark blotches. Young hawks also have several black and white stripes on their tail.
Where They Live and What They Like
The common black hawk is a bird that breeds in the warmer parts of the Americas. You can find them from the Southwestern United States all the way through Central America. They also live in countries like Venezuela, Peru, Trinidad, and the Lesser Antilles.
These hawks mostly live near the coast. They like mangrove swamps, river mouths (estuaries), and dry open woodlands nearby. Some populations also live inland. For example, there's a group that migrates in north-western Mexico and Arizona.
How They Behave
Building Nests
Common black hawks build their nests high up in trees. The nests are made of sticks and are often found in mangrove trees. They are usually fifteen to one hundred feet above the ground.
Hawks often use the same nests year after year. Because of this, the nests tend to get bigger over time. The female hawk usually lays one to three eggs, but most often just one. These eggs are whitish with brown marks.
Sometimes, very rarely, these hawks can even breed with other types of hawks. This is unusual for different kinds of hawks.
What They Eat
Common black hawks mainly eat crabs. But they also hunt small animals with backbones (vertebrates). They will also eat eggs they find.
You can often see this bird soaring high in the sky. It flies with occasional slow wing flaps. During courtship, they perform an aerial display where they touch talons. Their call is a special piping sound: spink-speenk-speenk-spink-spink-spink.
Status and Protection
The common black hawk is a protected bird. In the northern part of its range, like in the USA, it is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This law helps keep migratory birds safe.
See also
In Spanish: Busardo negro norteño para niños
