Species introCountry intro
Variable hawk, Antisana Ecological Reserve, Ecuador
A fuzzy photo, wasn't really ready with my gear when this bird appeared.
A change of scenery for this day where we visited a high altitude location: Antisana Ecological Reserve. This photo was taken at elevation 3,543m ASL.
In my Ecuador birds app, this species is known as the "Red-backed Hawk". Even this the illustrations shows its very variable indeed, with the white morph being common.
The variable hawk is a polymorphic species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is widespread and often common in open habitats in western and southern South America, including the Falkland Islands. Its taxonomy is disputed, with some splitting it into the widespread red-backed hawk and the Puna hawk or Gurney's hawk of the central and north Andean highlands, but the differences between the two are unclear.
