Guide to North American Birds
Conservation status Possibly as many as 250 pairs in United States; vulnerable to disturbance and to loss of habitat.
Family Hawks and Eagles
Habitat Wooded streams. Almost always found near water. In United States, breeds in tall trees (especially cottonwoods) along streams with more or less permanent water flow and with relative lack of human disturbance. In tropics found in wider range of habitats, including lowland rain forest, mountain rivers, coastal mangrove swamps.
In the arid southwest, this hawk is limited to the edges of flowing streams. A bulky bird, with very broad wings, short tail, and long legs, it usually hunts low along streams, even wading in the water at times, catching fish, frogs, and other small creatures. Although it seems sluggish, it is wary, calling loudly in alarm if people approach the nest. Common Black Hawks have abandoned some former nesting areas because of too much human disturbance.

Photo Gallery

Feeding Behavior

Hunts mostly by watching from low perch, then gliding down to catch prey in talons. Sometimes hunts actively along streams by moving from rock to rock at water's edge, and sometimes wades in shallow water, stirring up prey.


Eggs

1-2, sometimes 3. White to greenish-white, blotched with brown and lavender. Incubation is by both parents, with female incubating at night and much of day. Young: Female remains at nest almost constantly for first 2 weeks after eggs hatch, and for much of time thereafter. Male hunts and brings food to nest, female feeds it to young. Young leave nest after about 6-7 weeks, move to nearby trees; can fly well at about 10 weeks; adults continue feeding them for a further 5-6 weeks.


Young

Female remains at nest almost constantly for first 2 weeks after eggs hatch, and for much of time thereafter. Male hunts and brings food to nest, female feeds it to young. Young leave nest after about 6-7 weeks, move to nearby trees; can fly well at about 10 weeks; adults continue feeding them for a further 5-6 weeks.

Diet

Includes fish, frogs, lizards. Feeds on a wide variety of small creatures, but especially those found in water. In United States, eats mostly fish, frogs, tadpoles, and lizards, plus some small birds, snakes, rodents, insects. In tropics, diet may include many crayfish, crabs, large insects. B


Nesting

In courtship, pairs soar and dive, calling, with long legs dangling. Near nest site, male may feed female. Nest: In United States, site is in tree in grove along stream, usually in cottonwood or sycamore. Site usually 30-90' above ground. Nest is bulky platform of sticks, lined with green leaves; male brings much material, female adds it to nest.

Illustration © David Allen Sibley.
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Text © Kenn Kaufman, adapted from
Lives of North American Birds

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Migration

Non-migratory in most of range, but only a summer visitor in United States, where it arrives mostly in March, departs mostly in September and October.

  • All Seasons - Common
  • All Seasons - Uncommon
  • Breeding - Common
  • Breeding - Uncommon
  • Winter - Common
  • Winter - Uncommon
  • Migration - Common
  • Migration - Uncommon

See a fully interactive migration map for this species on the Bird Migration Explorer.

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Songs and Calls

Shrill whistled screams.
Audio © Lang Elliott, Bob McGuire, Kevin Colver, Martyn Stewart and others.
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