The white hawk (Pseudastur albicollis ) is a bird of prey breeding in the tropical New World of the family Accipitridae. Though it is commonly placed in the subfamily Buteoninae, the validity of this group is doubtful and currently under review.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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Soaring birdsSoaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Altricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Soaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe White hawk is a widespread bird of prey that breeds in the tropical New World. It has very broad wings, a white head, body, and underwings. The upper wings are black, and the very short tail is black with a broad white band. The bill is black and the legs are yellow. Immature birds have extensive black spotting on the upperparts and dark-streaked whitish underparts.
White hawks range from southern Mexico through Central and South America to Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. They also breed on Trinidad. Their range in central South America is the entire Amazon basin, from the Andes on the west to the Guianas on the Atlantic on the northeast, and to the transition lands to the south. White hawks inhabit tropical dry forests, rainforests, and other woodlands.
White hawks are generally solitary and diurnal birds. They are often seen soaring singly or sometimes in pairs and have a spectacular aerial courtship display. White hawks hunt by day waiting quietly on a perch inside the canopy. They also associate with foraging groups of Tufted capuchin monkeys and South American coatis to snatch prey startled by these animals. In order to communicate with each other White hawks produce a plaintive kerwee.
White hawks are carnivores and feed mainly on reptiles with some insects and mammals. They may also hunt small birds and amphibians.
Little information is known about the mating system in White hawks. However, hawks are generally monogamous breeders and pairs mate for life. They build a large stick platform nest in a tree usually lined with leaves. The female lays 1 dark-blotched blue-white egg and incubates it about 34-38 days. The young fledge between 65-88 days of age.
White hawks are not considered globally threatened. However, they suffer from deforestation of their habitat and the number of these raptors declines wherever forests are destroyed.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total White hawk population size is around 20,000-49,999 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.