Cuban black hawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cuban black hawk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Buteogallus
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| Species: |
gundlachii
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| Synonyms | |
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Buteogallus anthracinus gundlachii |
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The Cuban black hawk (Buteogallus gundlachii) is a cool bird of prey that lives only in Cuba. It's part of the Accipitridae family, which includes hawks, eagles, and kites. You can find it on the main island of Cuba and some smaller islands nearby called cays.
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How Scientists Classify the Cuban Black Hawk
A German bird expert named Jean Cabanis first described this hawk in 1855. For a long time, many scientists thought it was just a type of Mangrove black hawk. But in 2007, the American Ornithologists' Union decided it was its own special species. They noticed it had different calls and feather patterns. This hawk is one of eight species in the Buteogallus group, which are found in the Americas.
What Does the Cuban Black Hawk Look Like?
This hawk is about 53 cm (21 in) long, which is about the size of a large crow. Its feathers are mostly dark brown, almost black. It might have a lighter grey or white spot on its face, right between its beak and eye.
When it flies, you can see white patches on the underside of its wings. Its tail has wide black and white stripes. The hawk's legs are yellow, and its beak is yellow with a black tip. Female hawks are usually a bit bigger than males.
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A young Cuban black hawk.
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A Cuban black hawk flying.
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Where Do Cuban Black Hawks Live?
The Cuban black hawk lives only in Cuba. It especially likes places near the coast and in mangrove forests. You can also find it on the Isla de la Juventud, a large island south of Cuba. Sometimes, they live in wooded areas or even near mountains on the main island. Most often, though, they stay below 800 meters (about 2,600 feet) above sea level.
What Do Cuban Black Hawks Eat and How Do They Live?
These hawks mainly eat crabs. They also hunt small animals like fish, lizards, rodents, and other birds.
Cuban black hawks usually build their nests and have their babies between March and June. Sometimes, they start as early as January. They build their nests in the lower branches of mangrove trees. Their nests are made from mangrove twigs and lined with leaves. The female hawk lays one or two eggs. These eggs are about 42–56 mm long and have dark spots. Cuban black hawks are monogamous, meaning they stay with the same partner for a long time.
How Are Cuban Black Hawks Protected?
Scientists first looked at the Cuban black hawk's population in 2008. It is now listed as Near Threatened. This means it could become endangered in the future if we don't protect it. There are about 15,000 of these birds left. Their numbers are going down because their habitat is being damaged and drained. This also breaks up their living areas into smaller pieces.
See also
In Spanish: Gavilán batista para niños
