Roadside hawk

Last updated

Roadside hawk
Buteo magnirostris -Goias -Brazil-8.jpg
In Goiás, Brazil
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Buteoninae
Genus: Rupornis
Kaup, 1844
Species:
R. magnirostris
Binomial name
Rupornis magnirostris
(Gmelin, JF, 1788)
Buteo magnirostris.svg
Synonyms

Buteo magnirostris

R. m. griseocauda eating speckled racer, Belize Roadside hawk (Rupornis magnirostris griseocauda) eating speckled racer (Drymobius margaritiferus) Orange Walk.jpg
R. m. griseocauda eating speckled racer, Belize
Immature, the Pantanal, Brazil Roadside hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) immature 2.jpg
Immature, the Pantanal, Brazil

The roadside hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) is a relatively small bird of prey found in the Americas. This vocal species is often the most common raptor in its range. It has many subspecies and is now usually placed in the monotypic genus Rupornis instead of Buteo . [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

The roadside hawk was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae . He placed it with the eagles, hawks and relatives in the genus Falco and coined the binomial name Falco magnirostris. [3] Gmelin based his description on the "Épervier à gros bec de Cayenne" that had been described and illustrated in 1770 by the French polymath Comte de Buffon in his multi-volume Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux . [4] [5] The roadside hawk is now the only species placed in the genus Rupornis that was introduced in 1844 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup. [6] [7] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek rhupos meaning "dirt" or "filth" with ornis meaning "bird". The specific epithet magnirostris combines the Latin magnus meaning "great" with -rostris meaning "billed". [8]

Twelve subspecies are recognised. Their distributions are as follow: [7] [9]

Description

The roadside hawk is 31–41 cm (12–16 in) long and weighs 250–300 g (8.8–10.6 oz). [10] Males are about 20% smaller than females, but otherwise the sexes are similar. [11] In most subspecies, the lower breast and underparts are barred brown and white, and the tail has four or five grey bars. Twelve subspecies are usually recognised and there is significant plumage variation between these. Depending on the subspecies involved, the roadside hawk is mainly brown or grey. It is fairly common to observe a touch of rufous (i.e., a light reddish-brown) on the bird's wings, especially when seen in flight. [12] Its call is a very high-pitched piercing squeak. The eyes of adult roadside hawks are whitish or yellow. As suggested by its specific name, its beak is relatively large. [11]

The roadside hawk is the smallest hawk in the widespread genus Buteo; [13] although Ridgway's hawk and the white-rumped hawk are scarcely larger. [11] In flight, the relatively long tail and disproportionately short wings of the roadside hawk are distinctive. It frequently soars, but does not hover. [11]

Distribution and habitat

The roadside hawk is common throughout its range: from Mexico through Central America to most of South America east of the Andes Cordillera. Vagrants are occasionally found in Texas in the United States. It is found from the northern Caribbean coast of South America south to the northeastern parts of Argentina. With the possible exception of dense rainforests, the roadside hawk is well adapted to most ecosystems in its range. It is also an urban bird, and is possibly the most common species of hawk seen in various cities throughout its range—or perhaps just the most conspicuous one, as it becomes aggressive when nesting and has been recorded attacking humans passing near the nest. [14] [15]

Behavior and ecology

Breeding

The bulky stick nest is lined with leaves and placed near the top of a tree. The clutch of one or two eggs is incubated for around 37 days, beginning after the first egg is laid. [16]

Food and feeding

The roadside hawk's diet consists mainly of insects, squamates, and small mammals, such as young common marmosets and similar small monkeys which are hunted quite often. [17] It will also take small birds, but far less often than generalists such as the related but larger white-tailed hawk, or bird specialists like the more distantly related aplomado falcon. Mixed-species feeding flocks it encounters when hunting in open cerrado habitat are not particularly wary of it: they watch it lest the hawk come too close, but consider them hardly more of a threat than the diminutive American kestrel. [18]

Hunting

Roadside hawks regularly hunt using the "still hunting" method while patiently waiting for prey. While perch hunting, a hawk will drop or glide down from an elevated position to capture their prey. [19] Though most attempts are successful through this technique, it is crucial to consider that their style of hunting varies in success depending on the habitat they explore. [20]

Related Research Articles

<i>Buteo</i> Genus of birds-of-prey including various buzzards and hawks

Buteo is a genus of medium to fairly large, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings. In the Old World, members of this genus are called "buzzards", but "hawk" is used in the New World. As both terms are ambiguous, buteo is sometimes used instead, for example, by the Peregrine Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short-toed snake eagle</span> Species of bird

The short-toed snake eagle, also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle". The specific gallicus means "of Gallia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common potoo</span> Species of bird

The common potoo, or poor-me-ones, or urutau is one of seven species of birds within the genus Nyctibius. It is notable for its large, yellow eyes and a wide mouth. Potoos are nocturnal and are related to nightjars and frogmouths. They lack the characteristic bristles around the mouths of true nightjars.

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

The great black hawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures.

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

The rufous-browed peppershrike is a passerine bird in the vireo family. It is widespread and often common in woodland, forest edge, and cultivation with some tall trees from Mexico and Trinidad south to Argentina and Uruguay.

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

The collared aracari or collared araçari is a near-passerine bird in the toucan family Ramphastidae. It is found from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazonian black-throated trogon</span> Species of bird

The Amazonian black-throated trogon is a bird in the trogon family, Trogonidae. Although it is also called "yellow-bellied trogon" it is not the only trogon with a yellow belly. It breeds in lowlands of Amazonia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallow-tailed hummingbird</span> Species of bird

The swallow-tailed hummingbird is a species in the hummingbird family (Trochilidae), found mainly in east-central South America. Most authorities place it in the genus Eupetomena, although some place it in Campylopterus based on song and the thick shafts of the males' first primaries. Its common name and specific epithet both refer to the long, deeply forked, somewhat swallow-like tail.

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

The rufous crab hawk or rufous crab-hawk, is a Near Threatened species of bird of prey in subfamily Accipitrinae, the "true" hawks, of family Accipitridae. It is found on Trinidad and along the South American coastline from eastern Venezuela to southern Brazil.

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

The long-winged harrier is a common bird of prey species endemic to South America. They are members of the family Accipitridae, under the genus Circus which encompasses other harrier species. Its range encompasses most of South America, in grassland and wetland all across the continent. The long-winged harrier is a carnivorous bird, and will feed on many different animals found in its habitat. Like owls and other harrier species, the long-winged harrier has a distinctive facial disc, which is used to triangulate the bird's hearing while it is hunting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guianan puffbird</span> Species of bird

The Guianan puffbird is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the white-necked puffbird and the buff-bellied puffbird with the English name "white-necked puffbird".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-belted gnateater</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-belted gnateater is a species of bird in the family Conopophagidae, the gnateaters. It is found in the Amazon Basin of northern Brazil, southern Colombia and eastern Peru and Ecuador; also the Guianan countries of Guyana, Suriname and eastern French Guiana. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spot-backed antbird</span> Species of bird

The spot-backed antbird is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, the antbirds. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spectacled tyrant</span> Species of bird

The spectacled tyrant is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Hymenops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austral negrito</span> Species of bird

The austral negrito or Patagonian negrito is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It breeds in Argentina and Chile, migrating north as far as Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is a vagrant to the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands territory. It has also been seen in the South Shetland Islands. Its natural habitats are freshwater lakes and saline marshes. It is primarily insectivorous but can eat algae. It hunts in grassland environments with short grass. It perches and moves throughout foliage such as shrubs in order to find prey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whiskered myiobius</span> Species of bird

The whiskered myiobius or bearded flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tityridae, having previously been included in Tyrannidae. A number of taxonomic authorities continue to place with the flycatchers. The whiskered myiobius is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-headed antbird</span> Species of bird

The black-headed antbird is a species of passerine bird in the antbird family Thamnophilidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coraya wren</span> Species of bird

The coraya wren is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae, the wrens.

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

The red-shouldered hawk is a medium-sized buteo. Its breeding range spans eastern North America and along the coast of California and northern to northeastern-central Mexico. It is a permanent resident throughout most of its range, though northern birds do migrate, mostly to central Mexico. The main conservation threat to the widespread species is deforestation.

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

The short-tailed hawk is an American bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles and Old World vultures. As a member of the genus Buteo, it is not a true hawk and thus also referred to as a "buteo" or "buzzard". The white-throated hawk is a close relative and was formerly included in the species B. brachyurus.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2020). "Rupornis magnirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T22695880A168800737. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22695880A168800737.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. South American Classification Committee (2011) Revise generic boundaries in the Buteo group. Accessed 16 June 2011
  3. Gmelin, Johann Friedrich (1788). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae : secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1, Part 1 (13th ed.). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: Georg. Emanuel. Beer. p. 282.
  4. Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de (1770). Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale. pp. 237–238.
  5. Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc de; Martinet, François-Nicolas; Daubenton, Edme-Louis; Daubenton, Louis-Jean-Marie (1765–1783). Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle. Vol. 5. Paris: De L'Imprimerie Royale. Plate 464.
  6. Kaup, Johann Jakob (1844). Classification der Säugethiere und Vögel (in German). Darmstadt: Carl Wilhelm Leske. p. 120. Retrieved 28 December 2022 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2023). "Hoatzin, New World vultures, Secretarybird, raptors". IOC World Bird List. 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  8. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p.  343, 237. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  9. Clement, J.F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6th ed.). Christopher Helm. ISBN   978-0-7136-8695-1.
  10. "Roadside Hawk". oiseaux-birds.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ferguson-Lees, James; Christie, David A. (2001). Raptors of the World. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN   0-7136-8026-1.
  12. As illustrated in: Frisch, J.D.; Frisch, C.D. (2005). Aves Brasileiras e Plantas que as Atraem[Brazilian birds and plants attractive to them] (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Dalgas Ecotec. p. 191. ISBN   85-85015-07-1.
  13. Bierregaard, Richard O.; Boesman, Peter F.D.; Kirwan, Guy M. (4 March 2020). "Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris" . Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  14. BirdLife species factsheet for Buteo magnirostris
  15. Pereira, José Felipe Monteiro (2008). Aves e Pássaros Comuns do Rio de Janeiro[Common birds of Rio de Janeiro] (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Technical Books Editora. p. 41. ISBN   978-85-61368-00-5.
  16. Thiollay, J.M. (1994). "Roadside hawk" . In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. p. 179. ISBN   978-84-87334-15-3.
  17. de Lyra-Neves, Rachel M.; Oliveira, Maria A.B.; Telino-Júnior, Wallace R.; dos Santos, Ednilza M. (2007). "Comportamentos interespecíficos entre Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus) (Primates, Callitrichidae) e algumas aves de Mata Atlântica, Pernambuco, Brasil" [Interspecific behaviour between Callithrix jacchus (Linnaeus) (Callitrichidae, Primates) and some birds of the Atlantic forest, Pernanbuco State, Brazil]. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia (in Portuguese). 24 (3): 709–716. doi: 10.1590/S0101-81752007000300022 .
  18. Ragusa-Netto, J. (2000). "Raptors and 'campo-cerrado' bird mixed flock led by Cypsnagra hirundinacea (Emberizidae: Thraupinae)". Revista Brasileira de Biologia. 60 (3): 461–467. doi: 10.1590/S0034-71082000000300011 . hdl: 11449/28947 . PMID   11188872.
  19. Whitacre, David (2013). Neotropical Birds of Prey: Biology and Ecology of a Forest Raptor Community. Cornell University Press. ISBN   978-0-8014-6611-3.[ page needed ]
  20. Panasci, Theresa; Whitacre, David (2000). "Diet and Foraging Behavior of Nesting Roadside Hawks in Petén, Guatemala". The Wilson Bulletin. 112 (4): 555–558. doi:10.1676/0043-5643(2000)112[0555:DAFBON]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR   4164283.