Leucopternis melanops
The Black-faced Hawk (Leucopternis melanops) is a strikingly pied raptor of the South American lowlands, immediately recognizable by its contrasting plumage. Measuring approximately 38-43 cm (15-17 inches) in length with a wingspan of about 76-86 cm (30-34 inches), this medium-sized hawk features a jet-black head and upperparts that abruptly transition to pristine white underparts, underwings, and tail. Its bright yellow cere and legs provide a vivid accent, while the tail usually has a broad...
This hawk primarily inhabits humid tropical and subtropical lowland forests, preferring the canopy and sub-canopy of primary and mature secondary woodlands, generally found below 900 meters (3,000 feet) in elevation.
Its diet primarily consists of small reptiles (lizards, snakes), amphibians, large insects (cicadas, orthopterans), and occasionally small birds and mammals, captured through a perch-hunting method.
As a diurnal raptor, the Black-faced Hawk is typically observed perched cryptically within the forest canopy, often on a high branch overlooking potential prey. Its primary foraging strategy involves a "sit-and-wait" approach, scanning for movement before executing a swift, powerful dive to snatc...
The Black-faced Hawk is a non-migratory resident species, widely distributed across the Amazon Basin and the Guianan Shield in northern South America. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and vast stretches of Amazonian Brazil, extendin...
Least Concern
- The Black-faced Hawk's striking black and white plumage makes it one of the most distinctive raptors of the Neotropics, a living paradox of camouflage in the dappled light of the forest. - Despite its vivid coloration, its tendency to perch silently within dense forest canopies makes it surpris...