White-tailed Hawk

The White-tailed Hawk, scientifically known as Geranoaetus albicaudatus, is a robust bird of prey that graces the skies of the Americas. This large hawk bears a resemblance in size to its cousins, the Swainson's and Red-tailed Hawks. Adults typically measure between 44 to 60 centimeters in length, with a wingspan stretching from 118 to 143 centimeters. They possess a body mass ranging from 865 to 1,240 grams, depending on the subspecies. The adult's plumage is a dignified grey above, with a pristine white below and on the rump, subtly barred with pale grey or rufous. The tail, short and white, features a striking black band near its end, which becomes quite conspicuous during flight. A distinctive rusty-red shoulder patch adorns the bird when perched, and the wings are dark above, blending into grey near the blackish primary feathers. The underwing presents a whitish hue with indistinct brownish barring.

Identification Tips

To identify the White-tailed Hawk, look for the characteristic white tail with its narrow black band, the grey upperparts, and the white underparts with faint barring. The rusty-red shoulder patch is a key feature when the wings are folded. The bird's iris is hazel, the cere pale green, and the beak black with a horn-colored base. The feet are yellow, tipped with black talons. Immature birds are darker, often appearing nearly black, with a spotted black-and-white wing lining and lacking the rusty shoulder patch of adults.

Habitat

The White-tailed Hawk favors open or semi-open regions, thriving up to 600 meters above sea level. It prefers areas with sparse trees to allow for unobstructed flight.

Distribution

This non-migratory raptor's range extends from coastal Texas and the Rio Grande Valley through Middle America to northern Colombia, western Venezuela, and down to central Argentina. It is also found on many Caribbean islands, including the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and Tobago.

Behaviour

The White-tailed Hawk is known for its preference to perch on elevated spots such as bushes, trees, or telephone poles, and it is often seen standing on the ground or soaring high. It employs a hunting technique of hovering to survey its surroundings before gliding to a new vantage point if no prey is spotted.

Song & Calls

The hawk's vocalizations are a high-pitched cackling "ke ke ke…", with a tinkling quality that some liken to the bleating of a goat or the call of the laughing gull.

Breeding

Breeding pairs construct nests from freshly broken twigs, often from thorny plants, placing them 1.5 to 5 meters above the ground. The nests are lined with dried grasses and occasionally adorned with green twigs, possibly to deter parasites. The eggs are white, sometimes speckled with brown or lavender, with clutches typically containing one to three eggs. Adults are known to monitor intruders from the air rather than launching immediate attacks.

Similar Species

In the Southern Hemisphere winter, the White-tailed Hawk may be confused with the migrant Red-backed Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma), especially when observed by young birds.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the White-tailed Hawk is diverse, ranging from rabbits in southern Texas to large lizards in the Dutch West Indies. It also consumes cotton rats, snakes, frogs, arthropods, small birds, and occasionally chickens. In Brazil's cerrado, it is regarded as a significant predator, and it is known to feed on carrion and exploit brushfires to catch fleeing prey.

Conservation status

The White-tailed Hawk is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a wide range and no immediate global threats, although it may disappear from areas affected by habitat fragmentation.