Common Black Hawk

Common Black Hawk

(Buteogallus anthracinus)

Aguililla cangrejera, Gavilán cangrejero, Aguililla negra menor, Aguililla manglera, Gavilán Batista.

Identification: Large, stocky raptor with broad rounded wings, long legs, and short tail. Adults are black with a single white-band in tail. Juveniles are brown above, barred tail, buffy underparts with brown stripes, pale head, a white eye-line, and a noticeable pale panel in the primary feathers.

Migratory behavior: Soars extensively with brief periods of soft flaps. It is frequently found flying solitary but mixes with other raptors in thermals.

Remarks: Northern populations migrate south and probably winter in southern Mexico and Central America. It is found in a wide variety of semi-open habitats, riparian forest, mangroves, and swamps, from southwest of the United States to northern South America.