Grey-bellied hawk

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Grey-bellied hawk
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Accipiter
Species:
A. poliogaster
Binomial name
Accipiter poliogaster
(Temminck, 1824)
Range Map Grey-Bellied Hawk.jpg
Location where the grey-bellied hawk can be found (South America only)

The grey-bellied hawk or grey-bellied goshawk (Accipiter poliogaster) is a fairly large and rare species of forest-dwelling South American bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

Contents

Taxonomy

Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck described the grey-bellied hawk in 1824.

Description

This medium-sized hawk measures 38–51 cm in body length, with females being considerably larger (by about 40%) than males. [2] [3] Other body measurements in the male have been recorded as 232–270mm flat wing length, 165–187mm tail length, 18–21mm bill length from culmen to cere and tarsus length of 50–55mm;. [4] Corresponding measurements in the female are 263–283mm flat wing length, 181–207mm tail length, 20–22mm bill length from culmen to cere and 53–60mm tarsus length. [4]

The hawk's basic plumage is coloured black or dark grey above and contrasting white or grey on the throat and body underside below. [4] [5] As the common name suggests, the belly is pale grey. [6] The head is black or very dark grey overall and extends halfway down the throat before suddenly becoming white, [5] so as to give a “hooded” or “capped” appearance. [3] In males, the crown is darker than the rest of the head, [5] [3] whereas the plumage on the back and head of the female is uniformly dark. [2] White feathers on the nape are exposed and appear as white spots across the hindneck. [4] The tail is black or grey with three wide light grey horizontal bands on top and a narrow white tip. [7] [5] [3] The wings, legs and tail have been described as being relatively short for the body size, with a heavy bill and head. [8]

The feet, legs, cere and orbital skin are yellow [9] and the bill is black with a bluish grey base. [4] The iris has been reported as yellow [4] or red. [5] Females are reported to have darker grey and the males light grey cheeks. [10]

The plumage of juveniles has been said to resemble that of the ornate hawk eagle and have even previously considered a separate species (A. pectoralis). [2]

In the field, the grey-bellied hawk is similar in size and shape to the collared forest falcon and slaty-backed forest falcon and is therefore often confused with these two other species, both of which however differ markedly from the grey-bellied hawk in colouration. [5] This hawk is most often seen soaring over forests and utters a cackling kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek that trails off the end. [1] Average lifespan is estimated at 7.2 years. [1]

Distribution and habitat

This hawk has a wide but patchy distribution in tropical lowland evergreen forests of South America at elevations of 250-500m a.s.l. [11] It occurs in northern and eastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, the two Guyanas, Suriname, eastern Ecuador, central and eastern Peru, Amazonian Brazil, northern Bolivia, eastern Paraguay and northeast Argentina. [11] [8] [12] [13] [1] In Ecuador, its occurrence is patchy and has been observed only in pristine forest habitats. [9] [7] [14] In French Guiana, it has been observed in the lower canopy of both primary and recently logged forests. [14] The hawk is also said to occur accidentally in Costa Rica, [13] with the first adult being observed here in 2014 after reports of only juveniles. [12] It may be expanding its range into Costa Rica with the increase in human-disturbed land, which this hawk appears to tolerate as a nesting habitat. [2] [12] In Costa Rica has been reported a few times and the most recent was July 3, 2023 at Boca Tapada. Alongside rainforest, this hawk is also found in patches of riparian forest, other dense woodland [1] and sometimes in secondary forest. [8] [5] The total area of its occurrence is estimated at 7,490,000 square kilometres (2,890,000 sq mi). [1] Despite its large range, it appears to occur only locally and is generally rare. [15]

Although it is generally considered to be resident throughout its range, partial or full migration has been reported, [16] [1] with austral migration from the south toward the equator in winter reportedly occurring March–June. [17] In Ecuador, it has been sighted year-round and is therefore considered a permanent resident here (Global Raptor Information Network, 2012); and was once observed over 500m a.s.l at San Isidro. [7]

Ecology

Feeding

Little is known about this hawk's feeding biology; although given its medium size, it is assumed to take fairly large prey. [18] The majority of prey may comprise small passerines [8] [2] and tinamous [3] (Tinamus sp.). A young armadillo was also once identified as a prey item brought to the nest for young. [2] It has also been suggested to prey on arboreal lizards, tree frogs and large hygrophilous insects. [19] This hawk is thought to be a still hunter. Instead of hunting by soaring, it probably perches in the forest canopy to wait for a passing prey. [9]

Breeding

Breeding in this secretive hawk species has been observed and described only once in the field, which occurred in southern Brazil. [2] It appears to nest in a manner typical for Neotropical Accipiter species, although grey-bellied hawk nestlings appear to stay longer in the nest (about 49 days) compared to nestlings of other hawk species. [2] The single nest observed in Brazil constituted a platform built in the upper branches of a Parana pine. [2] This tree may be the preferred nesting site because of dense accumulations of branches on top which may conceal the nest from potential predatory raptors. [2] The clutch size in this nest comprised two eggs, with only a single nestling surviving and leaving the nest 49 days post-hatching. [2]

Within a pair, the male hunts for food for the female to feed to the young; as for many other Accipiters. [14] [2] However, unlike in other Accipiter species, the female of the grey-bellied hawk does not bring food to the nestlings while they are growing. [14] [2]

Threats

The forest habitat of this hawk species is primarily threatened by increased deforestation in the Amazon Basin; [20] and the species’ patchy distribution makes it susceptible to population fragmentation. However, it does appear somewhat tolerant of habitat disturbance since it has been observed foraging and nesting in degraded habitat. [2] [1] Nevertheless, the population is projected to decline because of the species susceptibility to being hunted and trapped; and habitat disturbance may more likely negatively affect the population. [1] Its rarity may also be partly attributable to competition with Micrastur forest falcons. [14]

Status

The grey-bellied hawk is evaluated as Near Threatened by the IUCN. [1] It was uplisted from Least Concern in 2012 given projected future population declines in view of ongoing deforestation in the Amazon. [20] [1] The overall population is estimated at 1000–10000 individuals. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accipitridae</span> Family of birds of prey

The Accipitridae is one of the three families within the order Accipitriformes, and is a family of small to large birds of prey with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a few feeding on fruit. The Accipitridae have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on all the world's continents and a number of oceanic island groups. Some species are migratory. The family contains 255 species which are divided into 70 genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooper's hawk</span> Species of bird

Cooper's hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from southern Canada to Mexico. This species is a member of the genus Accipiter, sometimes referred to as true hawks, which are famously agile, relatively small hawks common to wooded habitats around the world and also the most diverse of all diurnal raptor genera. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female. The birds found east of the Mississippi River tend to be larger on average than the birds found to the west. It is easily confused with the smaller but similar sharp-shinned hawk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizard buzzard</span> Species of bird

The lizard buzzard, or lizard hawk, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its name, it may be more closely related to the Accipiter hawks than the Buteo buzzards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crested goshawk</span> Species of bird

The crested goshawk is a bird of prey from tropical Asia. It is related to other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers, and thus placed in the family Accipitridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levant sparrowhawk</span> Species of bird

The Levant sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey. It measures 32–38 cm (13–15 in) in length with a wingspan of 65–75 cm (26–30 in). The female is larger than the male, but the difference is not as marked as with Eurasian sparrowhawk. The adult male is blue-grey above, with dark wingtips, and barred reddish below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate hawk-eagle</span> Species of bird

The ornate hawk-eagle is a fairly large bird of prey from the tropical Americas. Formerly, some authorities referred to this species as the crested hawk-eagle, a name that may cause some confusion as it is more commonly used for an Asian eagle species. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. This species has a feathered tarsus that marks it as a member of the Aquilinae or booted eagle subfamily. This species is notable for the vivid colors and bold markings of adults, which differ considerably from the far more whitish plumage of the juvenile bird. The ornate hawk-eagle ranges from central Mexico south through much of Central America and in a somewhat spotty but broad overall range into South America, including in the west apart from the Andes and broadly on the Atlantic side especially Brazil down to as far as Southeast Brazil and northern Argentina. This species is found largely in primary forests with tall trees, although can be found in many forest types.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared sparrowhawk</span> Species of bird

The collared sparrowhawk is a small, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found in Australia, New Guinea and nearby smaller islands. As its name implies the collared sparrowhawk is a specialist in hunting small birds. It is characterised by its slight brow ridges and slender feet. The last segment of their middle toe projects beyond the claws of the other toes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiny hawk</span> Species of bird

The tiny hawk is a small diurnal bird of prey found in or near forests, primarily humid, throughout much of the Neotropics. It is primarily a bird-eater, and is known to prey on hummingbirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicolored hawk</span> Species of bird

The bicolored hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in forest, woodland, second growth, plantations, and wooded savanna in southeastern Mexico, Central America, and northern and central South America. Though generally uncommon, it is the most common species of Accipiter in most of its range, but it does not occur at altitudes above 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) such as the highest parts of the Andes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gundlach's hawk</span> Species of bird

Gundlach's hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is one of 21 endemic bird species of Cuba. The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German-Cuban ornithologist Juan Cristobal Gundlach (1810–1896). It is threatened by habitat loss and human persecution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henst's goshawk</span> Species of bird

Henst's goshawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is a large, diurnal bird endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is an obligate forest species that occurs at very low densities on the island and is rarely seen. It can only occupy the primary and secondary forests found within the island. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and plantations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-breasted sparrowhawk</span> Species of bird

The rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, also known as the rufous-chested sparrowhawk and as the red-breasted sparrowhawk, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African goshawk</span> Species of bird

The African goshawk is an African species of bird of prey in the genus Accipiter which is the type genus of the family Accipitridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crane hawk</span> Species of bird

The crane hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only species placed in the genus Geranospiza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double-toothed kite</span> Species of bird

The double-toothed kite is a species of bird of prey in subfamily Accipitrinae, the "true" hawks, of family Accipitridae. It is found from central Mexico through Central America into much of northern and eastern South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayres's hawk-eagle</span> Species of bird

Ayres's hawk-eagle, also referred to as Ayres' eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is native to African woodlands. Its name honors South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barred hawk</span> Species of bird

The barred hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It has also been known as the black-chested hawk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madagascar harrier-hawk</span> Species of bird

The Madagascar harrier-hawk is a very large species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, endemic to Madagascar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean hawk</span> Species of bird

The Chilean hawk is a bird of prey species belonging to the typical hawks. It breeds in Andes forests from central Chile and western Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, from sea level to 2,700 m altitude. Some winter apparently in the lowlands of NW Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian goshawk</span> Species of bird

The Eurasian goshawk is a species of medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, a family which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. As a species in the genus Accipiter, the goshawk is often considered a "true hawk". The scientific name is Latin; Accipiter is "hawk", from accipere, "to grasp", and gentilis is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 BirdLife International (2016). "Accipiter poliogaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22695453A93510396. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695453A93510396.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Boesing, Andrea Larissa; Menq, Willian & Dos Anjos, Luiz (2012). "First Description of the Reproductive Biology of the Grey-Bellied Hawk (Accipiter poliogaster". The Wilson Journal of Ornithology . 124 (4): 767–774. doi:10.1676/1559-4491-124.4.767. JSTOR   23324527. S2CID   85322723.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Melnyk K, Gelis RA, Hopkins WA, Vaca F, Moore IT. 2013. Gray-bellied hawk (Accipiter poliogaster) observed feeding on a tinamou in Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador. Journal of Raptor Research 47: 330–332.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Blake ER. 1977. Manual of Neotropical Birds, Vol. I. Chicago.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Buitron-Jurado G. 2011. Interesting distributional records of Amazonian birds from Pastaza, Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 131: 241–248.
  6. ↑ De Schauensee RM. 1949. The birds of the Republic of Colombia (continued) Caldasia 5:381–644.
  7. 1 2 3 Howell SNG. 2002. Additional information on the birds of Ecuador. Cotinga 18: 62–65
  8. 1 2 3 4 Ferguson-Lees J, Christie DA. 2001. Raptors of the World. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Massachusetts.
  9. 1 2 3 Ridgely RS, Greenfield PJ. 2001. The Birds of Ecuador. Comstock Publications, Ithaca, New York.
  10. ↑ Schulenberg T, D Stotz, D Lane, J O'Neil and T Parker. 2007. Birds of Peru. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 664 pp.
  11. 1 2 Walker B, Stotz DF, Pequeno T, Fitzpatrick JW. 2006. Birds of the Msanu Biosphere, pp 23-49: in Patterson BD, Sotz DF, Solari S, eds. Mammals and Birds of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru. Fieldiana: Zoology n.s., No. 110.
  12. 1 2 3 Araya-H D, Contreras C, Sandoval L. 2015. Grey-bellied hawk, Accipiter poliogaster (Temminck, 1824) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), in Costa Rica. Check List 11: 1559
  13. 1 2 Chesser RT, Banks RC, Barker FK, Cicero C, Dunn JL, Kratter AW, Lovette IJ, Rasmussen PC, Remsen JV, Rising JD, Stotz DF, Winker K. 2011. Fifty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union checklist of North American birds. The Auk 128: 600-613.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Thiollay JM. 1994. Family Accipitridae (Hawks and eagles). Pages 52-205 in: Handbooks of the Birds of the World. Volume 2 (J. del. Hoyo, A. Elliot, and J. Sargatal Editors). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
  15. ↑ Collar NJ. 1986. Threatened raptors of the Americas: work in progress from the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Birds of Prey Bulletin 3: 13-25.
  16. ↑ Bildstein KL, Zalles J, Ottinger J, McCarty K. 2000. Conservation biology of the world’s migratory raptors: status and strategies. In: Chancellor RD, Meyburg B-U. 2000. Raptors at Risk. WWGBP/Hancock House.
  17. ↑ Márquez CM, Bechard, F Gast, V Vanegas. 2005. Aves rapaces diurnas de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos “Alexander von Humboldt”. 394 pp.
  18. ↑ del Hoyo, J, Elliott A, Sargatal J. 1994. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
  19. ↑ Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
  20. 1 2 Bird JP, Buchanan, JM, Lees, AC, Clay, RP, Develey, PF, Yépez I, Butchart, SHM. 2011. Integrating spatially explicit habitat projections into extinction risk assessments: a reassessment of Amazonian avifauna incorporating projected deforestation. Diversity and Distributions: doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00843.x.
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