Buteo solitarius

(Peale, 1848)

Vernacular names
English : Hawaiian hawk
French : Buse de Hawaii

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Accipitriformes
Family : Accipitridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Small hawk with compact body, reaching a length of 46 cm for a wingspan of 1 m and a weight of 650 g. Bill black with yellow cere, yellow legs. Plumage dark brown with a more rufous area on undertail. Clear morph exists.

Range and habitat
This species is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is only known to breed on the main island. Vagrant to smaller islands. Lives in mostly in forests but also agricultural areas, up to 2700 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species has a very small range and may still be declining because of habitat loss leading to destruction of potential nesting sites.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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