Parabuteo leucorrhous
The White-rumped Hawk, *Parabuteo leucorrhous*, is a distinctive and relatively small raptor native to humid montane forests of Central and South America. Measuring approximately 36-40 cm (14-16 inches) in length with a wingspan of 75-80 cm (30-31 inches) and weighing 270-380 grams (9.5-13.4 ounces), its most striking feature is the brilliant white rump that contrasts sharply with its otherwise sooty-gray to blackish plumage. Diagnostic field marks include these bright white uppertail coverts...
Found primarily in humid montane and cloud forests, forest edges, and clearings with scattered trees, typically at elevations between 800 and 3000 meters.
Their diet consists mainly of small birds, small mammals (like rodents and bats), lizards, frogs, and large insects, captured by surprise attacks from a perch or in short aerial pursuits.
White-rumped Hawks are diurnal predators, often observed perched inconspicuously within the forest canopy or along edges, launching swift attacks on unsuspecting prey. Their primary foraging strategy is 'perch-and-pounce,' involving long periods of stationary waiting followed by a rapid, powerful...
The White-rumped Hawk is distributed across a wide, though often patchy, range from southern Mexico (primarily Oaxaca and Chiapas) through Central America and extensively along the Andes Mountains of South America. In Central America, it can be found in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua...
Least Concern
- The White-rumped Hawk is one of only two species in the genus *Parabuteo*, the other being the Harris's Hawk, known for its unique cooperative hunting. - Unlike its cousin, the White-rumped Hawk is largely solitary, demonstrating a more typical raptor hunting style. - Its dazzling white rump is...