Common Black Hawk
A species of Black Hawks and Allies Scientific name : Buteogallus anthracinus Genus : Black Hawks and Allies
Common Black Hawk, A species of Black Hawks and Allies
Botanical name: Buteogallus anthracinus
Genus: Black Hawks and Allies
Content
Description People often ask General Info
Description
The adult common black-hawk is 43–53 cm (17–21 in) long and weighs 930 g (33 oz) on average. It has very broad wings, and is mainly black or dark gray. The short tail is black with a single broad white band and a white tip. The bill is black and the legs and cere are yellow. The adults resemble zone-tailed hawks, but have fewer white bars on their tail and are larger in size. Sexes are similar, but immature birds are dark brown above with spotting and streaks. Their underparts are buff to whitish with dark blotches, and the tail has a number of black and white bars. 
Size
51 - 58 cm
Colors
Black
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
14 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
3 - 4 eggs
Incubation Period
1 brood
Number of Broods
38 days
Nestling Period
41 - 52 days
Feeding Habits
Common Black Hawk primarily consumes fish, reptiles, small mammals, and invertebrates, often hunting from perches above water bodies and sometimes herding prey into shallower water. It can also feed on crustaceans, large insects, and occasionally small birds or carrion. Common Black Hawk may cache surplus prey and is known for its aerial courtship display.
Habitat
Common Black Hawk occupies coastal areas and riverine forests, favoring habitats like mangrove swamps, estuaries, and woodlands near water. Often found in low-altitude regions, these birds thrive where vegetation like cottonwoods and willows provide ample perching opportunities for hunting. They are adapted to areas with rich aquatic prey, typically preferring streams to lakes unless suitable perching sites are present.
Nest Behavior
Both common Black Hawk parents construct the nest and line it with leaves.
Nest Characteristics
Common Black Hawk's nest is built on crotches or forks of large trees like cottonwoods or sycamores, typically 30-90 feet above ground. The nest is large, bulky, made of sticks, and lined with green leaves.
Dite type
Carnivorous
People often ask
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Sounds
Call
Recording location: Mexico
Call
Recording location: Venezuela
Behavior
Common Black Hawk's daily life is characterized by strong pair bonds, evident through elaborate courtship and territory displays including tandem flights and talon-touching. Their interactions with the environment primarily involve territory defense, with both male and female aggressively warding off intruders, and nest-building with ritualistic stick delivery and vocalizations. Common Black Hawk exhibit meticulous incubation and chick-rearing roles, with the male predominantly providing food and the female undertaking most nest defense and brooding. Post-fledging, the adult common Black Hawk's territorial aggression diminishes.
Distribution Area
The common black-hawk is a breeding bird in the warmer parts of the Americas, from the Southwestern United States through Central America to Venezuela, Peru, Trinidad, and the Lesser Antilles. It is a mainly coastal, resident bird of mangrove swamps, estuaries and adjacent dry open woodland, though there are inland populations, including a migratory population in north-western Mexico and Arizona.
Species Status
The common black hawk is protected in the far north of its range (in the USA) under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
Scientific Classification
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