One of the most frequently spotted birds of prey across the Americas, thriving in landscapes stretching from Mexico all the way down to Argentina. While many people picture hawks as large, secretive hunters soaring high above untouched wilderness, this particular bird breaks almost all the traditional rules. For starters, it is noticeably smaller and more compact than most well-known hawk species. When trying to tell it apart from other raptors, its most distinct physical characteristic is its striking, two-toned plumage. It sports a solid brownish-grey back and head, but its lower chest and belly are covered in bold, beautiful horizontal bars of rusty reddish-brown and white.
As its name perfectly suggests, you are far more likely to see this bird boldly perched on a telephone wire, a roadside fence post, or a bare branch along a busy highway than hiding deep inside a dense jungle canopy. Here is a fascinating and unexpected fact: while human development and deforestation are devastating to most wildlife, the roadside hawk has actually benefited from these changes. They are masters of the “forest edge,” preferring open, sunlit areas with scattered trees.
While other hawks might specialize in catching fast-flying birds or tracking down elusive rodents, this hawk is the ultimate opportunist. A surprisingly large portion of its diet consists of insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, and cicadas, as well as small lizards and the occasional mouse. In a brilliant display of intelligence, these hawks are known to deliberately seek out chaotic natural disturbances to get an easy meal. If a brush fire breaks out, or if a massive, marching swarm of army ants begins sweeping through the underbrush, Roadside hawks will quickly gather right at the edges of the chaos. They aren’t there to eat the ants or play with fire; instead, they wait to effortlessly snatch up the panicked bugs and small reptiles fleeing for their lives.
Distribution
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guiana
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
United States
Uruguay
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
