Black-collared Hawk

Overview

The black-collared hawk (Busarellus nigricollis) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae that is monotypic within its genus. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• More or less white head tinged with buff, featuring black shaft streaks on the crown.
• Bright cinnamon-rufous body with a distinct black crescent on the upper chest.
• Black flight and tail feathers, with the tail base barred in rufous.
• Bright reddish-brown eyes, a black bill, and bluish-white legs.

Habitat

Found from western Mexico to Uruguay, this species inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and swamps. Nests are typically placed in large trees near water, though they may also use shade trees in coffee plantations or suburban areas.

Diet

The diet is mainly composed of fish, but the bird also consumes water bugs, large insects, snakes, lizards, frogs, snails, other molluscs, crustaceans, small birds, nestlings, and rodents.

Did you know?

The black-collared hawk possesses basal phalanges of the inner toe that are fused, a feature likely adapted to prevent the toe from bending back when catching prey.