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Photo by Jim Parrish
Photo Copyright Jim Parrish
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
General information
The broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus, breeds primarily in the eastern United States, though its breeding range extends far westward into Alberta in southern Canada. In winter, this hawk migrates south, often in large flocks, to tropical forests in Central America and South America. Migratory flocks avoid crossing the Gulf of Mexico, and instead follow migratory routes through Mexico and Central America. Small numbers of this hawk pass through Utah during migration.
Prey items include a variety of small vertebrates, such as small mammals, birds, snakes, and frogs. Often this hawk builds nests under the tree canopy at forest edges, frequently near wet areas. Nests are usually constructed in the crotch of a moderate or large sized tree, or on a branch next to the tree trunk, about 20 to 30 feet above ground. The nest may be a modified nest of another bird or a squirrel. Eggs are laid in May, the clutch size usually being two or three eggs. Incubation lasts 30 to 38 days and is normally done by the female, while the male brings food to the nest. Young are tended by both parents and leave the nest after 29 to 31 days. Young are not capable of sustained flight until they reach five or six weeks of age. Parents continue to provide food to the young until they are almost two months old.
Species range
BREEDS: central Alberta and central Saskatchewan and from central Manitoba to Nova Scotia, south to Gulf Coast. NORTHERN WINTER: mainly southern Florida and from Guatemala south to Peru, Bolivia, and southern Brazil. RESIDENT in West Indies (Cuba, Antigua south to Grenada and Tobago, very local in Puerto Rico (see files for subspecies BRUNNESCENS). Occurs in the western U.S. in migration.
Migration
Generally arrives in northern breeding areas mid-April through early May, departs by September-October (Bent 1937). Southward migration peaks late September-early October in Texas, mostly in October in Panama. Northward migration peaks in mid-March in Panama, late March-early April in southern Texas. Migration encompasses about 2 months each year. Usually migrates in large groups, in areas with favorable updrafts; avoids crossing large bodies of water. In North America in fall, most movement occurs on days with wind between WNW and NNE, surface wind below 12 mph, atmospheric pressure rising, and 24-hour temperature dropping; in spring, virtually all movement is on south winds on the southeastern side of low pressure system moving east ahead of a cold front. See Palmer (1988) for map of migration routes and many further details on migration.
Habitat
BREEDING: Broadleaf and mixed forest, preferring denser situations, less frequently in open woodland. Generally perches under or in tree canopy, forages at openings, edges, and wet areas (Palmer 1988). Regularly nests near wet areas and forest openings, edges, and woodland roads. Typically nests in crotch of moderate- to large-sized tree or on branch next to trunk, about 7-12 m above ground, in bottom 1/3 of forest canopy. May modify nest of other bird or squirrel; usually does not use same nest in 2 successive years. Presence of fresh greenery typical of completed nest (Palmer 1988). NON-BREEDING: Migrates along ridges, river valleys, and shorelines. In winter, may perch and feed along heavily traveled highways. In Costa Rica, prefers open areas, forest edge, broken forest (Stiles and Skutch 1989).
Food habits
Opportunistic; eats various small vertebrates (small mammals, birds, snakes, frogs, etc.) and large invertebrates (see Palmer 1988 for details); typically hunts from perch on stub or dead limb of tree, typically at clearing, along woodland road, forest edge, or at margin of seasonal and permanent waters. Consumes little or no food during migration.
Ecology
Solitary in winter, maintains feeding territory. In the West Indies, common only where red-tailed hawk (BUTEO JAMAICENSIS) does not occur (Wiley 1985).
Reproductive characteristics
Egg dates: peaks mid- to late May in the northeastern U.S., early to mid-May in the southeastern U.S.; see Palmer (1988) for full range of dates and further details. Clutch size usually is 2-3. Incubation lasts 30-38 days, normally by female only (male may cover eggs briefly), male brings food to female. In central Alberta, average hatching date was 2 July (Rusch and Doerr 1972). Young tended by both parents, leave nest at 29-31 days (perhaps older in undisturbed nests), capable of sustained horizontal flight at 5-6 weeks, depend on adults until 50-56 days old. First breeds usually at 2 years, some as yearlings (Palmer 1988). At least some birds pair with same mate in successive years. See Crocoll and Parker (1989) for information on breeding biology in western New York.
Threats or limiting factors
There are certain subspecies of this bird taht are endangered such as the West Indies race due to clearing of virgin forests but overall there are few specific threats to this species (Goodrich and Crocoll, 2014).
References
- Goodrich, L. J., S. C. Crocoll, and S. E. Senner. 1996. Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus). Birds of North America 218: 28 pp.
- Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American Birds, Second Ed. Academic Press, San Diego. 347 pp.
