White-rumped hawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-rumped hawk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Parabuteo
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| Species: |
leucorrhous
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| Synonyms | |
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Buteo leucorrhous |
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The white-rumped hawk (Parabuteo leucorrhous) is a type of bird of prey. It belongs to the "true" hawk family, Accipitridae. You can find this bird in many South American countries. These include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.
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About the White-Rumped Hawk
The white-rumped hawk is a medium-sized bird. It is about 33 to 40 centimeters (13 to 16 inches) long. Its wings can spread from 67 to 79 centimeters (26 to 31 inches) wide. Males and females look very similar.
Most of their body is black. But they have a special white patch on their lower back, called the rump. Their tail also has a thin gray-brown band in the middle. Their legs, feet, and eyes are bright yellow. Young hawks look a bit different. They have brown upper parts and mottled rufous (reddish-brown) underparts.
Where White-Rumped Hawks Live
White-rumped hawks live in two main areas. One area is along the Andes Mountains. This stretches from Venezuela and Colombia down through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It goes all the way to northwestern Argentina.
The second area is in southern Brazil. From there, it extends into Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. These birds like to live inside or at the edges of thick forests. They also live in a special type of forest called the Chaco in the east.
They usually live at high places in the mountains. In Colombia, they are found between 1,500 and 2,900 meters (4,900 to 9,500 feet) high. In Peru, they live between 1,650 and 2,500 meters (5,400 to 8,200 feet). In Bolivia, they can be found as high as 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). In the eastern part of their range, they live at lower elevations.
How White-Rumped Hawks Behave
Hawk Movements
White-rumped hawks usually stay in one place. But there is some evidence that they might move around a bit. This means they could be a little nomadic, moving to different areas at times.
What White-Rumped Hawks Eat
We don't know much about how white-rumped hawks hunt or what they eat most of the time. However, people have seen them eating some interesting things. Their diet includes reptiles, frogs, insects, and even rats.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The time when white-rumped hawks lay eggs changes depending on where they live. In Colombia, they breed in February and March. In Ecuador, it might be from June to January. In Brazil, they breed in October.
One nest that was found was like a shallow cup. It was made of sticks and lined with green leaves. This nest was high up in a pine tree, about 22 meters (72 feet) off the ground. It held two eggs.
Hawk Sounds
The white-rumped hawk makes a high-pitched whistle sound. Sometimes it sounds like "KEEEEiu." Other times, it's a longer, steady high-pitched whistle.
White-Rumped Hawk Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the white-rumped hawk is a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. They live across a very large area.
However, we don't know exactly how many white-rumped hawks there are. Experts believe their numbers might be going down. There are no big threats to them right now. They are generally found in specific areas and are not super common. But they can live in forests that have been a little bit disturbed. They are considered common in the western part of their range. However, in the eastern part, their numbers may be decreasing.
