Buteogallus urubitinga
The Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga) is a striking Neotropical raptor, measuring 50-60 cm (20-24 in) in length with a wingspan of 117-128 cm (46-50 in) and weighing 750-1100 g (1.6-2.4 lbs). Adults are unmistakable with their glossy black plumage, a single broad white band across a short tail, bright yellow cere and lores, and equally vibrant yellow legs. A key identification mark is this stark contrast of black body with the white tail band and yellow facial features, especially whe...
Primarily found in lowland tropical and subtropical forests, especially along rivers, wetlands, estuaries, and mangrove swamps, from sea level up to around 1,200 meters (4,000 feet).
A diverse diet of reptiles (lizards, snakes), amphibians (frogs), small mammals (rodents), large insects, fish, and notably, crabs. Primarily forages by perching, wading in shallow water, or through short aerial pursuits.
Great Black Hawks are diurnal birds, often observed perching prominently on dead trees or snags overlooking water, poised to strike. Their foraging strategy is diverse, including the classic 'perch-and-pounce' method, but they are also known to wade deliberately in shallow waters to hunt for aqua...
The Great Black Hawk's extensive range spans from southern Mexico, encompassing states such as Veracruz, Tabasco, and Chiapas, through all of Central America, including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Its distribution continues southward into most of northern and c...
Least Concern
- The Great Black Hawk is one of the few raptors globally known to regularly wade into water, sometimes up to its belly, to hunt for crabs and other aquatic prey. - Its juvenile plumage is so different (brown and heavily streaked) from the adult's glossy black that young birds are often mistaken ...