Buteogallus schistaceus
The Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus) is a striking medium-sized raptor inhabiting the humid lowlands of northern South America. Measuring approximately 39-48 cm (15-19 inches) in length with a wingspan of 84-102 cm (33-40 inches), adults are easily identified by their uniform dark slate-gray plumage, bright yellow cere, and powerful yellow legs and feet. A definitive field mark is the distinctive black tail adorned with a single broad white band across the middle and a narrow whit...
This raptor primarily inhabits lowland tropical and subtropical humid forests, particularly várzea and gallery forests, and other riparian habitats along rivers, streams, lakes, and swamps, generally below 500 meters (1,640 feet) elevation.
Their diet primarily consists of aquatic prey, including fish, crabs, frogs, and snakes, supplemented with large insects and occasional small birds or mammals, hunted via a perch-and-pounce strategy.
Slate-colored Hawks are diurnal predators, typically observed singly or in pairs, often perched conspicuously on exposed branches or dead snags overlooking water. Their primary foraging strategy involves patient perch-hunting, where they scan for prey from a vantage point before swooping down to ...
The Slate-colored Hawk is a resident species widely distributed across the Amazon and Orinoco basins of northern South America. Its breeding range extends from eastern Colombia and Venezuela, eastward through Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, and south through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and vast ...
Least Concern
- The Slate-colored Hawk is one of the more aquatic Buteogallus species, often observed hunting directly over water. - Its scientific name, *schistaceus*, refers to its slate-gray coloration. - Unlike many other dark raptors in its range, its single broad white tail band is a key and reliable ide...