Kingdom Animalia Order Accipitriformes Subfamily Buteoninae Scientific name Buteo nitidus Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Accipitridae Genus Buteo Higher classification Buteo | |
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Similar Bird, Gray hawk, Buteo, Gray‑headed kite, Accipitridae | ||
Grey lined hawk buteo nitidus parque natural tayrona birds caribe
The grey-lined hawk (Buteo nitidus) is a smallish raptor found in open country and forest edges. It is sometimes placed in the genus Asturina as Asturina nitida. The species has been split by the AOU from the grey hawk. The grey-lined hawk is found from southern Costa Rica to Argentina.
The grey-lined hawk is 46–61 cm (18–24 in) in length and weighs 475 g (16.8 oz) average. The adult has a pale grey body, the tail is black with three white bands and the legs are orange. It has fine white barring on the upper parts.
Immature birds have dark brown upperparts, a pale-banded brown tail, brown-spotted white underparts and a brown streaked buff head and neck. This species is quite short-winged, and has a fast agile flight for a Buteo.
It feeds mainly on lizards and snakes, but will also take small mammals, birds and frogs. It usually sits on an open high perch from which it swoops on its prey, but will also hunt from a low glide. The nest is of sticks and built high in a tree. The usual clutch is one to three, usually two white to pale blue eggs. The young take about 6 weeks to fledging.
