Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)

Identification & Behavior: ~49.5 cm (19.4 in). The Adult Savanna Hawk is mostly rufous with shades of gray above and dusky barring below. The juvenile is dusky brown. Adult birds in flight look mostly rufous with black margined wings. The Savanna Hawk is unmistakable in its range, but see a juvenile Common Black Hawk, which is restricted to mangrove forest in northwest Peru. Forages on open habitats.

Status: The Savanna Hawk is fairly common in open habitats in the lowlands of northwest Peru. It also occurs in similar habitats in the Marañon Valley. Overall it appears to occur below 700 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Gavilán Sabanero.

Sub-species: Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis), Latham 1790.

Meaning of Name: Buteogallus: Gr. Buteo= vulture, buzzard; and gallus= rooster. meridionalis: L. south, southern.

See more of the Family Accipitridae