Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Hawks

Prepared by

Ann Walton

Length: 15-17 inches
Wingspan: 32-41 inches
Weight: 350-560 grams

Pale and dark morphs; male and female similar in coloration. In both plumages, adults have a whitish tail with dark terminal band and several other narrow, often incomplete dark bands. The more common pale morph adult has upper parts and sides of head slate black to deep fuscous brown, and unmarked white under parts. Below, the wings are white, with large gray border ending with a dark terminal band. The pale juvenile is similar to adult, except for some underbody streaking. The rarer dark morph adult is uniform black all over, except for the gray underwing flight feathers. The juvenile dark morph is similar to adult, except for whitish spotting on belly and underwing coverts.

Distribution

South Florida through Central America to northern Argentina, excluding western Peru and Chile.

Habitat

; lowlands through foothills, open terrain, marshes, and forests.

Feeding

Aerial feeder, seldom perching. Soars 100-200 meters in altitude on flat wings, with curled tips, seldom flapping; never hovers. Stoops suddenly and steeply for prey, snatching birds (96% of food prey) from the canopy and air. Also will eat insects, lizards, and rodents.

Breeding

March – May in U.S. Large stick nest, lined with fine sticks and leaves, built high in trees. Clutch size is 2 eggs.

Movements

Florida population shifts to southern part of state in winter. Migration reported in populations from Mexico to Costa Rica, while those in the more southern range are sedentary.

Status

Not globally threatened, although uncommon to rare in Florida. Occurs over very large range, and is tolerant of disturbed habitat.