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Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens)

Crane Hawk

Geranospiza caerulescens

Least Concern

Overview

The crane hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae and the sole member of its genus. This species comprises several previously distinct species that are now recognised as subspecies with clinal colour variation.

Habitat

Found in tropical lowlands at the edge of forests, the crane hawk is almost always closely associated with water. Its range spans from Mexico and Central America through South America, with notable populations in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, and it behaves as an irruptive local migrant in response to changing water conditions.

Diet

The crane hawk forages by scanning from a perch or swooping down from the wing to capture small vertebrates, including rodents, bats, lizards, snakes, frogs, and small birds. It also consumes larger insects such as beetles and cockroaches, spiders, arthropods, and snails.

Did you know?

Crane hawks possess 'double-jointed' tarsal bones, a trait shared with African harrier-hawks that allows them to reach into tree cavities to extract prey.

Sources