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North American Animals - mamals, birds, reptiles, insects
Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)
Common Black Hawk on the Bay of Nicoya, Costa Rica
Photograph by Jerry Oldenettel. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
COMMON BLACK-HAWK FACTSDescription
The Common Black Hawk is a black or dark gray hawk with broad wings. The tail is short and black with a broad white band and a white tail tip. The bill is black. The legs and cere are yellow. Males and females are similar. Immature birds are dark brown above with spotting and streaks, white or buff below with dark blotches, and have a black and white barred tail.
length 43cm - 53cm
mangrove swamps, estuaries, coastal woodland
The Common Black Hawk eats mainly crabs, also some small vertebrates and eggs.
Nest is a platform made of sticks, positioned in a tree about 5m - 30m above the ground. Lays one to three whitish eggs (usually one), with brown markings.
south western United States, Mexico, Central America to northern South America.
Relatives in same Genus
Great Black-Hawk (B. urubitinga)