It is a small hawk with short rounded wings. It has a pale-grey head with a brown body, and a striped brown-and-white chest and tail. There are 12 recognized sub-species which all have slight variations in appearance. They weigh between 250-300g and measure 33-41cm in length.
| Taxonomy | (Buteo magnirostris) |
| Spanish Name | Gavilan chapulinero |
| Conservation Status | Least concern |
| Distribution | Throughout most of Central and South America |
| Behavior | As suggested by their name, you can often see them near roads, perching on fence posts and on telephone wires. They are not a social species and so are usually seen alone. They have a distinctive shrill screech which is an easy way to identify them when perching. |
| Diet | They have quite a variable diet which includes insects, reptiles, small mammals and occasionally birds. |
| Reproduction | Roadside hawks are more territorial during breeding season and it is common to hear a wider variety of calls. They create compact nests using twigs, leaves and tree bark which can measure upto 46cm in diameter and 36cm deep. They lay 2 small eggs and incubate them for 37 days. |
| Threats | There are no documented threats on IUCN, except for the predation of their nests by humans. |
| At Alturas | Although it is not a common rescue, we have seen several throughout the years and often see them flying over the sanctuary and hear them while they are perching in nearby trees. |
Do you want to help birds fly back into the wild? The final phase of rehabilitation is going into a pre-release area to prepare for freedom. The birds in our care desperately need this for their successful release.
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