Busarellus nigricollis
The Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis) is a striking, medium-sized raptor inhabiting the Neotropical lowlands, truly unique as a specialized fish-eater among the true hawks (family Accipitridae). Measuring 45-60 cm in length with a wingspan of 115-140 cm and weighing 500-800 g, its appearance is unmistakable. Adults boast a glossy black head and neck, forming a distinctive "collar," sharply contrasting with its rich, unbarred rufous-chestnut body. A broad white band adorns its other...
This raptor primarily inhabits a variety of wetland environments, including slow-moving rivers, oxbow lakes, lagoons, marshes, flooded savannas, and mangrove forests, typically found at low elevations up to 1000 meters.
Its diet consists predominantly of fish, supplemented by aquatic insects, frogs, and occasionally crabs, captured through perch-hunting or shallow swooping dives into the water.
The Black-collared Hawk is a diurnal predator, frequently observed perched conspicuously on low branches or snags overhanging water, patiently scanning for prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves a "sit-and-wait" approach, punctuated by short, shallow dives or glides to snatch fish from the ...
The Black-collared Hawk has an expansive resident range spanning the Neotropical realm, from southern Mexico south through Central America to much of tropical South America. Its distribution extends from the humid lowlands of Oaxaca, Mexico, through countries like Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nic...
Least Concern
- It is the sole member of its genus, Busarellus, making it a monotypic species. - Its unusually long, scaly tarsi (legs) and deeply curved talons are specialized adaptations for gripping slippery fish. - Despite being a true hawk, its fishing prowess leads some to mistake it for an Osprey, thoug...