Roadside Hawk Photo Gallery
Adult (Northern)
A small raptor found at forest edges across much of the tropical Americas. Adult has light iris, yellow cere (facial skin), orange-yellow legs, and rufous-and-white barring on the belly and below; other plumage details vary considerably across range. Some “Northern” adults, like this individual, have a light gray head and breast.
© Bradley Hacker 🦜 / Macaulay LibraryCoclé, December 23, 2014Adult (Northern)
All adults show large, distinctive rufous wing patches in flight. Adult tail color varies from rufous to gray, with 4–5 broad black bands. The “Northern” subspecies group ranges from Mexico to the southern Amazon.
© Cory Gregory / Macaulay LibraryPuntarenas, January 11, 2018Adult (Northern)
A small hawk of forest edges and other open habitats. Adult plumage varies considerably. Some “Northern” adults have brownish-gray upperparts and head, coarse streaking on the breast, and rufous barring below. All adults have a pale eye, yellow cere, bright rufous wing patches (more obvious in flight), and broad black bands on the tail.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibrarySan José, December 01, 2007Not all videos have soundAdult (Southern)
The “Southern” subspecies group occurs south of the Amazon, from northeastern Brazil to northern Argentina. Many “Southern” adults have dark brown upperparts, a nearly black head, and rusty underparts (streaked on the breast, barred below).
© Luis Fernandez / Macaulay LibraryJujuy, May 14, 2016Juvenile (Northern)
Immature has white or buffy underparts, with coarse brownish streaking on the breast and barring on the belly. Many immatures also have a prominent white line above the eye.
© John van Dort / Macaulay LibraryCholuteca, September 17, 2016Adult (Southern)
“Southern” adult often has a dark brown head, brown upperparts, and cinnamon underparts with fine barring on the belly.
© Pieter de Groot Boersma / Macaulay LibraryMato Grosso, July 27, 2017Not all videos have soundAdult (Northern)
In flight, note short, rounded wings; fairly long tail (usually kept closed); and, in adult, large rufous wing patches.
© David Monroy Rengifo / Macaulay LibraryRisaralda, March 15, 2019Juvenile (Northern)
Often seen perched on wires, fence posts, and telephone poles alongside roads. Juvenile “Northern” has upper tail pattern similar to adult, but with gray bands alternating with black.
© Oliver Komar / Macaulay LibraryFrancisco Morazán, July 31, 2016Juvenile (Southern)
Juvenile “Southern” has light stripe above the eye, buffy streaking on the neck, and whitish underparts with brownish streaking and barring.
© Juan Sanabria / Macaulay LibraryMato Grosso do Sul, November 01, 2018Not all videos have soundJuvenile (Southern)
Juvenile “Southern” has light stripe above the eye, buffy streaking on the neck, and whitish underparts with brownish streaking on the breast and barring below.
© Ezequiel Vera / Macaulay LibraryBuenos Aires, August 06, 2016Immature (Northern)
Immature “Northern” can have little or no rufous patch in the wings. Note short, rounded wings and fairly long, barred tail.
© John Garrett / Macaulay LibraryVeracruz, October 24, 2016Adult (Northern)
A very vocal hawk. Both sexes give long series of nasal calls, somewhat reminiscent of a woodpecker. Note the large rufous wing patches when the bird opens its wings.
© Paul Molina A / Macaulay LibraryAzuay, November 01, 2021Not all videos have soundAdult (Southern)
In some “Southern” populations, adult has a dark head, rich brown upperparts, and a reddish tail with black bands.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibrarySanta Cruz, August 14, 2013Adult (Northern)
Often perches close to the ground, in search of insects, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and other prey.
© John Doty / Macaulay LibraryPuntarenas, March 15, 2015Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae)
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