Gray Hawk
Gray Hawk
Buteo plagiatus
At a Glance
Widespread and common in the tropics, this small hawk enters our area mainly in southeastern Arizona, where it is limited to cottonwood and mesquite forests along a few streams. It sometimes soars above the surrounding country, but often it perches within the branches of tall trees, where its presence may be given away by its loud whistling calls. Fast and agile in flight, the Gray Hawk may slip rapidly through the trees, plucking fast-running lizards from the branches.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Hawk-like Birds, Hawks and Eagles
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Arroyos and Canyons, Desert and Arid Habitats, Forests and Woodlands
Region
Southwest, Texas
Behavior
Flap/Glide, Soaring
Population
2.000.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Mostly withdraws from Arizona in winter, but probably travels only a short distance south into Mexico; a few may linger near the border. In southern Texas, perhaps more frequent in winter than in summer.
Description
16-18" (41-46 cm). W. 3' (91 cm). Adult is gray, finely barred below, with bold black and white bands on tail. Juvenile is less distinctive: brown above, streaked below. Suggests juvenile Broad-winged Hawk but has more striking face pattern, fine bars (not spots) on thighs.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Rounded
Tail Shape
Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
A clear whistle, who-fleeer.
Call Pattern
Flat, Simple, Undulating
Call Type
Scream, Whistle
Habitat
Wooded lowland streams. In United States, breeds only in tall trees along or near permanent streams, especially in cottonwoods, with areas of dense brush (such as mesquite) nearby. In the tropics much more widespread, found in any kind of brushy or semi-open habitat.
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Behavior
Eggs
Usually 2-3. Pale bluish-white, fading to white, sometimes with a few brown spots. Incubation is mostly or entirely by female, about 32 days.
Young
Apparently both parents bring food for young birds. Young may leave nest at about 6 weeks, but may return to nest for resting or sleeping for some time thereafter.
Feeding Behavior
Surprisingly agile in flight, able to fly rapidly among tree limbs and dense brush, using its talons to pick off lizards or birds from the branches. May watch for prey from a perch, or may circle low over clearings or through the woods.
Diet
Mostly lizards and birds. In Arizona, feeds heavily on spiny lizards (genus Sceloporus) that climb in trees; also other lizards, various small and medium-sized birds, snakes, mice, wood rats, small rabbits, ground squirrels, large insects. Diet in tropics not well known but apparently similar.
Nesting
In courtship, pairs circle high in air, calling. Male may climb high, dive steeply, then repeat, in impressive aerial display. At times both members of pair may fly high and then dive. Adults have loud whistling call, somewhat like cry of Peacock, given near nest. Nest: In Arizona, nest site is in tall tree, usually in cottonwood but sometimes in sycamore, oak, or other species. Site is usually well hidden near top of tree, 40-60' up, to over 100' at times. Nest is a small platform of sticks, including green leafy twigs, lined with leaves.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Probably no more than about 50 pairs nest north of Mexico; vulnerable to loss of lowland stream forest habitat. Still fairly common and widespread in tropics.
Climate Threats Facing the Gray Hawk
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