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Zone-tailed Hawk
Buteo albonotatus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
Species range
RESIDENT: northern Baja California, central Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas south locally to Panama (including Pearl Islands), eastern Colombia (Santa Marta region south to Magdalena; east of the Andes in Meta, Caqueta, and Amazonas), northern and southeastern Venezuela (Zulia to Anzoategui, northeastern Bolivar), Trinidad, Guyana, Surinam, eastern Brazil (Isla Marajo, Ceara, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Parana), Paraguay, northern and eastern Bolivia (Beni, Santa Cruz), western Ecuador, and west-central Peru (near Lima) (Sibley and Monroe 1990). Center of abundance in U.S. is in central Arizona, with about a dozen known pairs in both New Mexico and southwestern Texas and a few recent sightings in California (Snyder and Glinski 1998).
Migration
Partially migratory in northern part of breeding range. A few winter in mountains "west" [east?] of San Diego with occasional winter records from desert areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Texas. Arrives on breeding grounds in U.S. mid-March to early April (Snyder and Glinski 1988).
Habitat
Arid open country, especially open deciduous or pine-oak woodland (AOU 1983). Mesa and mountain country, often near watercouses (NGS 1983). Wooded canyons and tree-lined rivers along middle slopes of desert mountains. Open country with scattered trees or thickets, especially near marshes or streams (Costa Rica, Stiles and Skutch 1989). Nests in various habitats and sites, ranging from small trees in lower desert, giant cottonwoods in riparian areas and mature conifers in high mountain regions; often selects nest site close to cliff or steep hillside (which may provide some shading part of day) adapts well to regular low-level human activity (if not too close to nest) (Snyder and Glinski 1988). Nests usually in large tree in U.S., often in cottonwood along canyon stream (Terres 1980). In Costa Rica, nests high in tree, often in gallery woodland (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Often uses same nest tree for many years (Snyder and Glinski 1988).
Food habits
Eats various small vertebrates (especially birds and lizards in U.S., also rodents, frogs, snakes, centipedes); pounces from low glide (Terres 1980, NGS 1983). In Arizona, observed foraging up to 26 km from nest (Palmer 1988). Usual hunting method: soars rapidly and widely over ground at altitude of about 50-500 ft (usually at lower end of this range).
Reproductive characteristics
Egg dates: mid-April to mid-May in Arizona; late March to mid-May in Texas. Nesting begins November-December in Central America. Breeds February-March in Trinidad (Palmer 1988). Eggs laid mostly in latter half of April in north (U.S.). Clutch size 1-3 (usually 2). Incubation about 35 days, primarily by female. Young attain flight in 6-7 weeks (July-August in north).
Threats or limiting factors
Greatest threat in U.S. is loss of riparian nesting habitat; presence of DDT in several river systems is a concern in southwestern Texas (where contamination of lizard prey is documented) (Palmer 1988).
