Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens)

Identification & Behavior: ~48 cm (19 in). The Crane Hawk is uniformly gray, slender, and has long red legs. The tail is long and has broad white bands. The juvenile has a pale belly vermiculated with gray and pale throat and forehead. In Amazonia, the Crane Hawk is restricted to habitats along rivers. In northwest Peru is more widespread in many habitat types. It uses its long legs to probe for prey items in cavities and cracks. The juvenile Great Black Hawk is larger and does not have red legs. The Slate-colored Hawk has red legs and a red face but is stouter and smaller.

Status: The Crane Hawk is widespread and rare along riverine habitats in Amazonia. It is uncommon is the northwest lowlands where it uses a wider variety of habitats. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Gavilán Zancón.

Sub-species: Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens balzarensis), W. L. Sclater, 1918. Pacific slope to W Colombia, W Ecuador and NW Peru (Lambayeque).
(G. c. caerulescens), Vieillot 1817. E slope of Colombia and Ecuador to the Guianas and Amazonian Peru and Brazil.

Meaning of Name: Geranospiza: Gr. geranos = crane; and spizias= falcon, hawk. caerulescens: L. caerulea= blue, bluish gray.

See more of the Family Accipitridae