Pseudastur occidentalis
The Grey-backed Hawk, Pseudastur occidentalis, is a striking, medium-sized raptor endemic to the humid montane forests of western South America. Adults measure approximately 38-46 cm (15-18 in) in length with a wingspan of 80-100 cm (31-39 in), showcasing a sleek, powerful build. Its most distinctive field marks include slate grey upperparts, a stark contrast to its pure white underparts, which may have fine dusky barring on the flanks. A short, black tail prominently displays a single broad ...
Resident in humid foothill and montane forests, including cloud forests, and along forest edges, typically at elevations between 300 and 1800 meters, occasionally higher.
Primarily preys on reptiles (lizards, snakes), amphibians (frogs), and small birds, supplemented by large insects and small mammals, typically captured via a perch-and-pounce method.
Grey-backed Hawks are diurnal, typically observed soaring over forest clearings or perched inconspicuously within the canopy. They are classic perch-and-pounce hunters, patiently scanning from an elevated lookout before swooping down to ambush prey on the forest floor or within the dense undergro...
The Grey-backed Hawk is endemic to the humid montane and foothill forests of the western Andes in South America, with its distribution confined to southwestern Colombia and western Ecuador. In Colombia, its range extends along the Pacific slope of the Western Andes, primarily in the departments o...
Near Threatened
- The Grey-backed Hawk was formerly classified in the genus *Leucopternis*, but genetic studies led to its reclassification into the genus *Pseudastur* in 2012, highlighting its unique evolutionary path. - This hawk is a specialist of humid montane and cloud forests, thriving in the perpetually m...