Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Buteo platypterus 4
Somewhat smaller than the Red-tailed Hawk, the Broad-winged Hawk (15 inches) may be identified by its solid brown back, rust-colored legs and belly, and barred white-and-black tail. A rarer dark morph also exists which is mostly dark brown overall except on the tail, which is similar to that of the light morph. Like most species of raptors, females are larger than males. The Broad-winged Hawk breeds across the eastern United States and southern Canada, absent as a breeding bird only from southern Florida and the western Gulf Coast. This species migrates south for the winter, when it may be found in Florida south of Miami and from southern Mexico south to South America. Non-migratory populations exist in the West Indies. Broad-winged Hawks breed in mature forests with deciduous or mixed deciduous and evergreen trees. During the winter, this species inhabits humid tropical forests. Broad-winged Hawks primarily eat small vertebrates, such as amphibians, small mammals, and small birds, but they may also eat large insects when available. Broad-winged Hawks are most easily observed on migration, particularly in south Texas, where they sometimes form flocks numbering in the thousands. It is also possible to observe Broad-winged Hawks dropping down from perches to capture prey or, with the aid of binoculars, roosting in trees. This species is most active during the day.
Conservation status 5
The global population of broad-winged hawks is estimated to be about 1,800,000 individuals. On a global scale, populations are believed to be declining, though data is scarce. In North America, broad-winged hawks are considered quite common.
Broad-winged hawks are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act and CITES Appendix II. They are classified as a species of least concern by the IUCN. One subspecies of broad-winged hawk, the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens) is protected as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Primary causes of mortality in this species include predation, trapping, shooting, and vehicle collisions.
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: appendix ii
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Habitat 6
Broad-winged hawks prefer to nest in dense deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. They like to have water and openings such as roads, trails, wetlands or meadows nearby. Broad-winged hawks use these openings for foraging hunting. They are shy and tend to avoid nesting near humans.
In winter, broad-winged hawks can be found in the forests of Central and South America. They may live at any elevation between sea level and several thousand meters high.
Range elevation: 2000 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest
Sources and Credits
- (c) Alejandro Bayer Tamayo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/alejobayer/16158047639/
- (c) Pablo Leautaud, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3471448575_ae3267ef91.jpg
- (c) Len Blumin from Mill Valley, California, United States, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Broad-winged_Hawk.jpg/460px-Broad-winged_Hawk.jpg
- Adapted by Natalie LaScala from a work by (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/34818326
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/31381757
- (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25063740
