About Buteogallus anthracinus (Deppe, 1830)
Description: Adult common black-hawks measure 43–53 cm (17–21 in) in length, with an average weight of 930 g (33 oz). They have very broad wings, and their body plumage is mainly black or dark gray. Their short tail is black with one broad white band and a white tip. The bill is black, while the legs and cere are yellow. Adults are similar in appearance to zone-tailed hawks, but are larger and have fewer white bars on their tail. Male and female common black-hawks look similar to each other. Immature common black-hawks are dark brown on the upperparts, with spotting and streaks. Their underparts range from buff to whitish, with dark blotches, and their tail has multiple black and white bars. Distribution and habitat: The common black-hawk breeds in the warmer regions of the Americas, ranging from the Southwestern United States through Central America to Venezuela, Peru, Trinidad, and the Lesser Antilles. It is mostly a coastal, resident bird that lives in mangrove swamps, estuaries, and nearby dry open woodland. However, there are inland populations, including a migratory population in north-western Mexico and Arizona.
