Gray hawk

Appearance

The gray hawk averages 46–61 cm inches in length and weighs 475 g. This bird has a relatively short wing span, but long tail compared to the red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks. It has broad rounded wings, a hooked beak, and yellow legs.Thompson, L.. It is very distinctive from its smooth pale gray plumage. The tail features are in a horizontal stripped pattern in a white gray white pattern with white at the tips of the tail feathers. The tail feathers have two white bands with one being wider than the other. The sexes are similar in coloration. The adults, both male and female, have a darker grey top side with a lighter gray and white underside. The juveniles have a dark brown topside and a streaked or spotted underside and the tail feathers have numerous dark bands. The juveniles have very obvious bold facial strips and white upper tail coverts, which are the feathers at the base or start of the tail. The juveniles also have a different plumage color due to dominance and they use the dull color for camouflage.

Distribution

A gray hawk's range for the most part is in Central America and extends down into the Amazon and Northern Argentina in South America. The range also can extend north into northern Mexico, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern Texas. Its habitat within this range consists of forest edges, river edges, clear cuts, savanna, and agricultural land. In their tropical range of the Amazon they tend to prefer a more dry second growth forest.

Habitat

A gray hawk's range for the most part is in Central America and extends down into the Amazon and Northern Argentina in South America. The range also can extend north into northern Mexico, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern Texas. Its habitat within this range consists of forest edges, river edges, clear cuts, savanna, and agricultural land. In their tropical range of the Amazon they tend to prefer a more dry second growth forest.

Reproduction

The mating system of the gray hawk is monogamous. During December through May, the breeding season, these birds perform courtship displays. The males court the females by rising and falling flight, calls, and nest building. The male and female together will build their stick nest in tall trees, but the male only lays down the foundation while the female will shape the nest. The nest is about 60 centimeters across and the female will on average lay 2 to 3 pale-blue eggs per clutch. The female takes care of her eggs incubating them for 33 days; meanwhile the male will capture prey and bring it back to the female. A few breeding pairs nest along the Rio Grande in riparian woods. In research conducted from 1995-97 in south-west Arizona, it was found that gray hawks produced an average of 1.32 young per nest between all three years when the study was being conducted. The chicks will begin fledging in 6 weeks and both males and females won’t hit sexual maturity until they are least 2 years of age.

Food

The gray hawk's main diet is lizards and small birds, but it will also eat rodents and large insects. It hunts in brushy areas either from a perch or flight just above the canopy.

Migration

The migration pattern of gray hawks depends on the location of the animals' home range. Birds that live in northern Mexico and the south-western United States will migrate, but birds living further south tend to stay in the same area permanently. A few birds in the northern range will stay in the southern part of Texas year round rather than migrating, but this is rare. The birds that migrate north to the south-western United States will migrate in the spring in order to breed. After the breeding season, the birds will begin their journey back south in mid-October to their wintering ranges.