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 like fresh food? So do the animals in our care! Help us keep their food fresh and tasty with a donation towards a new refrigerator and freezer. Animals can actually be picky about what they eat and if we are giving them food that isn't fresh or up to their standards, they often won't eat it. Help us continue giving the best food and care to the wildlife of Costa Rica!
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