Roadside Hawk
Roadside Hawk, Tangara larvata.Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species: Buteo magnirostris (Gmelin, 1788)
The Roadside Hawk (Buteo magnirostris) is a small bird of prey found in Latin America. You should hear the story about how this one came into my world for the day!
Contents
Range and distribution
A common bird throughout its range, the Roadside Hawk can be found from Mexico through Central America to most of South America, east of the Andes cordillera. Roadside Hawk is found from the northern Caribbean coast of South America, south to the northeastern parts of Argentina. With the possible exception of dense forests, the Roadside Hawk is well adapted to most ecosystems of its range.
Identification
Fairly small compared to other members of the Buteo genus, the Roadside Hawk can, in some parts of its range, be identified by its lengthy tail and disproportionately short wings. The breast and underparts of the bird are barred brown and white and the tail has four or five grey bars. There is, however, significant plumage variations depending on the subspecies involved. The eyes of the Roadside Hawk are usually yellow in color and wikt:rufous patches on the bird's wings can be observed while the hawk is in flight.
Diet
The Roadside Hawk's diet consists mainly of small mammals, insects, reptiles, and smaller birds.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). B. magnirostris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 05 December 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
