Eurasian sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Photo by Tomi Muukkonen (Vogelwarte)

Common name:
Eurasian sparrowhawk (en); gavião-da-Europa (pt); épervier d'Europe (fr); gavilán común (es); sperber (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species breeds throughout most of Eurasia, from western Europe to eastern Russia and south to Japan, Korea and central China. They also breed in Morocco, Tunisia, northern Algeria and the Canary Islands. The more northern and eastern populations migrate south to winter in southern Asia and in eastern Africa along the Nile basin.

Size:
These birds are 28-40 cm long and have a wingspan of 56-78. Females tend to be larger than males, weighing 185-350 g while males weigh 105-195 g.

Habitat:
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is found in a wide range of forest habitats, including coniferous, deciduous and mixed in boreal, temperate and tropical areas, usually favouring areas interspersed with open areas such as scrublands, savannas and arable land. They also use plantations, rural gardens and urban areas. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 4.500 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt passerines, but can take birds up to the size of a pigeon, jay or even a small grouse. Occasionally, also small mammals such as voles, shrews, young rabbits and squirrels, and small lizards and amphibians, and rarely insects and carrion.

Breeding:
Eurasian sparrowhawks are monogamous and breed in April-August. the nest is mainly built by the male, consisting of a platform of sticks and twigs placed in a fork in a tree about 6-12 m above the ground. There the female lays 3-6 white eggs which she incubates alone for 32-34 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 24-30 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 20-30 days later. they reach sexual maturity at 1-3 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated to be above 1,5 million individuals. In Europe the population is suspected to be stable at present. The population suffered dramatic declines during the 1950s and 1960s due to widespread use of organochlorine pesticides such as DDT, but it has since recovered following bans on harmful pesticides.

Plumbeous kite

Ictinia plumbea

Photo by Michael Andersen (Flickr)

Common name:
plumbeous kite (en); sovi (pt); milan bleuâtre (fr); elanio plomizo (es); schwebeweih (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found from eastern Mexico south to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. West of the Andes they also occur as far south as southern Ecuador.

Size:
These birds are 29-38 cm long and have a wingspan of 70-95 cm. They weigh 190-280 g.

Habitat:
The plumbeous kite is found in various forest habitats, especially lowland rainforests, but also mountain rainforests, mangroves, dry tropical forests and dry savannas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt insects in flight, including beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, butterflies, bugs, bees, wasps, flying ants, lacewings, cicadas and termite alates. They also take some small vertebrates, including lizards, snakes, birds, bats and frogs.

Breeding:
Plumbeous kites breeds in March-November. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a small, flat cup made of sticks and lined with leaves and moss. It is placed high in a tree, at the base of a branch. Often the same nest is used by a pair over several years. The female lays 1-2 white of pale bluish eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 31-33 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 36-39 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 0,5-5 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Brown goshawk

Accipiter fasciatus

Photo by David Cook (Flickr)

Common name:
brown goshawk (en); açor-australiano (pt); autour australien (fr); azor australiano (es); bänderhabicht (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found throughout Australia and New Guinea, in Vanuatu, New Caledonia, the southern Solomon islands, and in southern Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 37-55 cm long and have a wingspan of 74-96 cm. Males weigh 250-415 g, while the much larger females weigh 440-740 g.

Habitat:
The brown goshawk is found in a wide range of habitats, including dry tropical forests, dry savannas, second growths, grasslands, rivers and streams, rural gardens and urban areas. They occurfrom sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on small mammals, particularly rabbits, and also birds, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods and, occasionally, carrion.

Breeding:
Brown goshawks breed in September-April. They nest in solitary pairs, each building a platform of sticks lined with green leaves. The nest is placed in a fork or horizontal branch of a tall tree, up to 36 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 bluish-white eggs, which the mostly incubates alone for 30-35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, but the male is responsible for the bulk of the hunting during the fledging period. They fledge 28-37 days after hatching, but remain dependent on the parents for another 3 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common and widespread. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to persecution by pigeon fanciers and poultry farmers, and habitat destruction, although the species is able to tolerate a degree of habitat degradation.

Northern goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

Photo by Johan Stenlund (PBase)

Common name:
northern goshawk (en); açor (pt); autour des palombes (fr); azor común (es); habicht (de);

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is widely distributed in Eurasia and North America. It is found throughout continental Europe and in Great Britain, and also in northern Morocco, in Turkey and the Caucasus, throughout most of Russia and into northern Kazakhstan and northern Mongolia, and also in Japan, central and south-western China and marginally into northern India and northern Myanmar. In North America the northern goshawk is found throughout most of Alaska and Canada, and also in the United States as far south as California, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia, and in north-western Mexico.

Size:
These birds are 46-63 cm long and have a wingspan of 98-115. Females tend to be larger thn males, weighing 800-2.200 g while males weigh 500-1.100 g.

Habitat:
The northern goshawk is mostly found in temperate forests, particularly coniferous, but also deciduous and mixed forests. They also use boreal forests, tundra grasslands and parks with tall trees within urban areas. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.400 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt small and medium sized birds and mammals, up to the size of a pigeon, grouse or rabbit, but also take large invertebrates and reptiles.

Breeding:
Northern goshawks breed in April-June. They are monogamous and mate for life, and both sexes help build the nest. The nest is a large structure made of sticks and twigs, and lined with leafy green twigs, conifer needles and pieces of bark. It is placed in a tree, most often a mature conifer 15-20 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 bluish-white eggs, which she mostly incubates alone for 28-38 days. The chicks are mostly fed by the male and fledge 34-46 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 70-90 days later. They reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated to be above 500.000 individuals. The northern goshawk suffered significant declines during the 19th and early 20th century due to persecution and deforestation, but more recently the population trend appears to be stable.

Hook-billed jite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

(Photo from Wiki Aves de Colombia)

Common name:
hook-billed kite (en); caracoleiro (pt); milan bec-en-croc (fr); milano picogarfio (es); langschnabelweih (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found from Mexico, and marginally in southern Texas, south to northern Argentina, Paraguay and south-eastern Brazil. They are also found in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada.

Size:
These birds are 38-41 cm long and have a wingspan of 78-98 cm. They weigh 215-400 g.

Habitat:
The hook-billed kite is mostly found in moist tropical forests, including swamp forests and gallery forests, as well as mangroves, dry tropical forests, dry scrublands and shade coffee plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.700 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on tree snails, such as Homolanyx, Polymita and Bulimulus wiebesi, as well as some ground snails, using their hooked bill to remove the flesh from the shell. They also hunt frogs, salamanders, lizards, birds, large insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Hook-billed kites breed in March-November. The nest is a flimsy, unlined platform made of small twigs. It is placed in a fork or horizontal branch of a tree, usually 5-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 dull white eggs with chocolate brown blotches, which are incubated by both parents for 34-35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 35-45 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 200.000 individuals. The population is declining owing to deforestation which is leading to loss of suitable tree snail prey and, locally, to persecution by farmers who mistakenly believe it preys upon chickens.

African cuckoo-hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

(Photo from Planet of Birds)

Common name:
African cuckoo-hawk (en); falcão-cuco-africano (pt); baza coucou (fr); baza africano (es); kuckucksweih (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to Angola, northern Botswana, Mozambique and eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 38-43 cm long and have a wingspan of 85-95 cm. They weigh 220-295 g.

Habitat:
The African cuckoo-hawk is found within and along the edges of dry tropical forests, also using dry savannas, plantations and even suburban gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on snakes, lizards and chameleons, large insects such as grasshoppers, mantids and caterpillars, as well as bees, wasps, termites alates, and small birds.

Breeding:
These birds breed can breed all year round, usually coinciding with the local rainy season. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest, an untidy platform made of sticks and leafy twigs, and lined with leaves. It is placed in a fork high in a tree, about 10-25 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 chalky-white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 32-33 days. The chicks fledge 30-42 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as widespread. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, but it may be affected by the loss of forest habitat and can be predated by larger raptors.

Pearl kite

Gampsonyx swainsonii

Photo by Douglas Oliveira (Aves de Rapina Brasil)

Common name:
pearl kite (en); gaviãozinho (pt); élanion perle (fr); elanio enano (es); perlaar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found from Nicaragua south to Bolivia and northern Argentina, also occuring in the island of Trinidad.

Size:
These birds are 20-23 cm long and have a wingspan of 50-58 cm. They weigh 80-115 g.

Habitat:
The pearl kite is mostly found in dry savannas, also using open tropical forests and woodlands, second growths, dry scrublands, wet grasslands, agricultural areas and even within urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They mainly hunt lizard, especially Anolis sp., but also insects, frogs and small birds.

Breeding:
Pearl kites nest in a small, shallow platform made of fine twigs, which is built by both sexes and placed high up in a tree. The female lays 2-4 white eggs with brownish of greyish-violet markings, which she mainly incubates alone for 28-35 days. The chicks are fed by the female, while the male provides her food, and fledge about 5 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1.000-10.000 individuals. The pearl kite is currently expanding in range as deforestation creates new areas of suitable habitat.

Square-tailed kite

Lophoictinia isura

(Photo from Flickr)

Common name:
square-tailed kite (en); milhafre-de-rabo-quadrado (pt); milan à queue carrée (fr); milano colicuadrado (es); schopfmilan (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, breeding from northern Queensland south to Victoria but being found throughout most of the country outside the breeding season, with the exceptions of northern South Australia and eastern Western Australia.

Size:
These birds are 50-55 cm long and have a wingspan of 130-145 cm. They weigh 450-650 g.

Habitat:The square-tailed kite is mostly found in coastal and sub-coastal, Eucalyptus dominated open forests and woodlands, and inland riparian woodlands. they also use coastal heathland, forest edges and wooded suburban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They mostly hunt small birds, particularly honeyeaters, including their eggs and nestling, but also large insects, reptiles, frogs and small mammals.


Breeding:
Square-tailed kites are monogamous and mate for life. They breed in July-December and the nest is a large platform made of sticks and lined with green Eucalyptus leaves. It is placed in a fork in a tall tree, 8-34 m above the ground. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 37-42 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 8-9 weeks after hatching, but only become fully independent 1-2 months later. Each pair raises a single clutch per year.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1.000-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. However, it may be vulnerable to certain activities which include habitat loss by logging, clearing and burning for cultivation and grazing, as well as illegal egg collection or hunting, nest disturbance and unsuitable fire regime management.

Red goshawk

Erythrotriorchis radiatus

Photo by Patrick Ingremeau (PBase)

Common name:
red goshawk (en); açor-vermelho (pt); autour rouge (fr); azor rojo (es); fuchshabicht (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being sparsely distributed in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country, from western Kimberley Division to north-eastern New South Wales. There are also some records in central Australia probably referring to dispersive individuals.

Size:
These birds are 45-60 cm long and have a wingspan of 100-135 cm. The females are larger, weighing around 1,1 kg while the males weigh around 630 g.

Habitat:
The red goshawk is found in coastal and sub-coastal forests, including  moist tropical forests, temperate forests, riverine forests, swamp forests and dry savannas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt mainly birds, particularly parrots, passerines, kookaburras, pigeons and cuckoos, but occasionally also larger prey such as ducks, herons and megapodes. Mammals, reptiles and insects are rarely taken.

Breeding:
Red goshawks breed in My-December. They are probably monogamous and breed in solitary pairs. The nest is a large structure made of dead sticks with a saucer-shaped hollow top, thickly lined with finer twigs and green eucalyptus leaves. It is placed on an exposed fork in a tall tree, 15-30 m above the ground, and within 1 km of a watercourse or wetland. The female lays 1-2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 39-43 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 51-53 days after hatching, but continue to be receive food from the parents for another 70–80 days.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a very large breeding range, but the global population is estimated at just 1.000-1.400 individuals. The population may be declining owing to habitat loss in at least eastern Queensland, but the rate of decline is not suspected to be rapid. Historical declines n this species were possibly caused by widespread clearance for agriculture, a problem still affecting the more northern populations. Other threats include egg collecting, forest fires, shooting, pesticide abuse and reduced prey abun­dance caused by loss or degradation of freshwa­ter wetlands, loss of hollow-bearing trees in which prey breed, over-grazing by livestock and feral herbivores, and changed fire regimes.

Shikra

Accipiter badius

Photo by Jaysukh Parekh (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
shikra (en); gavião-chicra (pt); épervier shikra (fr); gavilán chikra (es); schikrasperber (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and through the Arabian Peninsula into southern Asia as far as Azerbaijan, Iran, southern Kazakhstan, north-western Pakistan and through the Himalayas into India, southern China and Indochina.

Size:
These birds are 26-30 cm long and have a wingspan of 55-60 cm. They weigh 75-160 g.

Habitat:
The shikra is found in various wooded habitats, including dry savannas, tropical forests, riparian forests and exotic tree plantations, but also in grasslands, dry scrublands, rura gardens and even within urban areas.

Diet:
They are aggressive hunters that pounce on their prey from a perch, taking lizards, small birds, frogs, large insects, rodents and bats.

Breeding:
Shikras can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. They are monogamous, solitary nesters, with both sexes helping build the nest which consists of a bowl made of twigs and lined with bark chips. It is placed on a fork in a large tree branch, often in an exotic tree such as an Eucalyptus. The female lays 1-4 bluish-white eggs, which she mostly incubates alone for 28-30 days. The chicks fledge about 32 days after htching, but onlu become independent 30-40 days later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as widespread. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

African harrier-hawk

Polyboroides typus

Photo by Jenny Varley (Wikipedia)

Common name:
African harrier-hawk (en); secretário-pequeno (pt); gymnogène d'Afrique (fr); aguilucho-caricalvo común (es); höhlenweihe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species throughout sub-Saharan Africa, from southern mauritania to Sudan and Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 51-68 cm long and have a wingspan of 118-152 cm. They weigh 500-950 g.

Habitat:
The African harrier-hawk is found in a wide range of habitats, including tropical and temperate forests and woodlands, dry savannas, dry scrublands, riparian vegetation along rivers and streams, second growths, plantations of Eucalyptus and other exotic trees, arable land and even urban areas. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt various small animals, including small mammals, frogs, lizards, birds, bird eggs and fledglings, and insects. Occasionally, they also take stranded fish or carrion, and are known to feed on oil-palm fruits.

Breeding:
African harrier-hawks are usually monogamous and highly territorial. They can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a large platform made of sticks and lined with green leaves, placed on the upper branches of a tree or on a rocky cliff ledge. The female lays 1-3 white eggs with reddish-brown markings, which are incubated by both parents for 35-36 days. The chicks are fed by the male and brooded by the female. Often the older chick kills is siblings, and fledges 45-55 days after hatching. It becomes fully independent about 10 days later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as fairly common in West Africa, but less common an patchily distributed in other areas. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats and the African harrier-hawk is thought to adapt quite easily to altered environments, and its preference for stands of alien trees has even resulted in it colonising new areas

Little sparrowhawk

Accipiter minullus

Photo by Johan Stenlund (PBase)

Common name:
little sparrowhawk (en); gavião-pequeno (pt); épervier minule (fr); gavilancito chico (es); zwergsperber (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This African species is found from Ethiopia and south-eastern Sudan, through Kenya and Ethiopia, and into Angola, northern Namibia, northern Botswana, Mozambique and eastern and southern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 23-27 cm long and have a wingspan of 39-50 cm. They weigh 70-105 g.

Habitat:
The little sparrowhawk is found in moist tropical forests, mangroves, dry savannas and dry scrublands, often favouring areas near rivers and streams. They also use exotic tree plantations and rural gardens.

Diet:
They prey mainly on small birds, such as swallows, which they hunt on the wing or from a hidden perch., but also take bats, lizards and insects.

Breeding:
Little sparrowhawks can breed all year round, varying between different parts of their range. The nest is a small platform of sticks, lined with fine twigs and green leaves, and placed in a fork high up on a tree. The female lays 1-3 eggs, which are incubated for 31-32 days. The chicks fledge 25-27 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as widespread and common in most areas, with the population being estimated to be in the range of 10.000-100.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Crested serpent-eagle

Spilornis cheela

Photo by Bob Thompson (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
crested serpent-eagle (en); águia-cobreira-de-crista (pt); serpentaire bacha (fr); águila culebrera chiíla (es); schlangenweihe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in south-east Asia, from north-eastern Pakistan and India to southern China and Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 55-76 cm long and have a wingspan of 110-170 cm. They weigh 0,4-1,8 kg.

Habitat:
The crested serpent-eagle is found in moist tropical forests and mangroves, dry savannas, estuaries, plantations and arable land, typically favouring forest edges. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt primarily snakes, including poisonous ones, but also small mammals, monkeys and birds.

Breeding:
Crested serpent-eagles breed in December-August. They are monogamous and nest in a large stick nest, lined with small twigs and green leaves, and placed in a tall tree usually near a stream or other water body. The female lays 1-2 eggs, which she incubates alone for 35 days while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 2 months after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and as widespread and common, although locally uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Snail kite

Rostrhamus sociabilis

(Photo from Ciencia de Cuba)

Common name:
snail kite (en); gavião-caramujeiro (pt); milan des marais (fr); caracolero común (es); schneckenweih (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found from Florida and southern Mexico, through parts of the Caribbean and Central America and through most of South America as far south as southern Brazil and northern Argentina. They are mostly found east of the Andes, the only exceptions being coastal Ecuador and south-western Colombia.

Size:
These birds are 36-48 cm long and have a wingspan of 100-120 cm. They weigh 300-570 g.

Habitat:
The snail kite is found near freshwater lakes, marshes and other bodies of water, including flooded grasslands and rice fields. They favours areas with low vegetation and scattered scrubs or small trees. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They are specialized on freshwater snails, particularly Pomacea and Ampullaria. They also hunt small turtles, crabs and crayfish, but only when snails are not available.

Breeding:
Snail kites can breed all year round and can be either monogamous or polygamous. They nest in colonies and often re-use old nests abandoned in previous years. The nest is a bulky, loose cup made of sticks, unlined and placed on a small tree or scrub, 1-3 m above the water. The female lays 2-4 buffy white eggs with brown splotches, which are incubated by both parents for 27-28 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 2 months after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as locally common. Some populations may be increasing, while other are being negatively impacted by habitat loss through wetland drainage, excessive use of pesticides and hunting.

Bearded vulture

Gypaetus barbatus

Photo by Dan Logen (The Guardian)

Common name:
bearded vulture (en); quebra-ossos (pt); gypaète barbu (fr); quebrantahuesos (es); bartgeier (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in southern Europe, from northern Spain to Austria, in Morocco and northern Algeria, from Greece, through Turkey and the Middle East and into Mongolia and China, in north-eastern Africa from Egypt to northern Tanzania, and in eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 95-125 cm long and have a wingspan of 230-285 cm. They weigh 4,5-7 kg.

Habitat:
The bearded vulture is mostly found in rocky mountainous areas, also foraging over grasslands, scrublands and sometimes even in urban areas. They are present at altitudes of 1.000-7.500 m.

Diet:
They are scavengers, specializing at feeding on bones. The small bones are eaten whole, while the larger bones are carried into the air, and dropped from height onto rocks below, which results in the bones shattering on the rocks, provides the bird with access to the nutritious marrow inside.

Breeding:
Bearded vultures are typically monogamous, although polyandrous trios are known to occur in some areas. They can breed all year round, varying geographically and the nest is a massive pile of branches lined with wool, dung, dried skin and sometimes even rubbish, placed on a rocky outcrop in a cliff. The female lays 1-2 greyish eggs with light brown blotches, which are incubated for 53-60 days. The chicks fledge 100-130 days after hatching. They reach sexual maturity at 8-9 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 1.300-6.700 individuals. The population is declining throughout its range with the exception of northern Spain where the it has increased in recent decades. The main factors affecting bearded vulture populations are poisoning, both accidental and targeted, as well as habitat degradation, disturbance of breeding site and collision with power lines, but the species is not considered threatened at present.

Black-shouldered kite

Elanus axillaris

(Photo from Revista Imán Sinopsis)

Common name:
black-shouldered kite (en); peneireiro-cinzento-australiano (pt); élanion d'Australie (fr); elanio australiano (es); Australischer gleitaar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found throughout the country, including Tasmania.

Size:
These birds are 33-38 cm long and have a wingspan of 80-95 cm. They weigh around 290 g.

Habitat:
The black-shouldered kite is found in dry grasslands with scattered trees, dry savannas, arable land and along rivers and streams. Also on the outskirts of small towns, over coastal dunes and marshes.

Diet:
They feed mainly on mice and other small mammals, especially the introduced house mouse Mus musculus, often following outbreaks of mouse plagues in rural areas. They also hunt grasshoppers, small reptiles, birds and rarely rabbits.

Breeding:
Black-shouldered kites are monogamous and breed in July-January. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a large untidy shallow cup of sticks, placed high on a tree or on an artificial structure such as a bridge or power pole, usually 5-20 m above the ground. They also use old nests abandoned by crows,magpies or ravens. The female lays 3-4 dull white eggs with reddish-brown blotches, which are incubated for about 34 days. The chicks fledge 36-38 days after hatching but continue to receive food from the parents for another 1-3 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated to be over 100.000 individuals. The population may be increasing as clearance for agriculture has lead to an increase in suitable habitat and growing populations of prey species such as the house mice.

Bald eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Photo by Tom Michalski (Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology)

Common name:
bald eagle (en); águia-de-cabeça-branca (pt); pygargue à tête blanche (fr); pigargo americano (es); weißkopfseeadler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This North American species is found breeding across most of Canada, patchily in the western United States, in the north-eastern United States and along the Atlantic coast down to Florida. The winter throughout most of the United States and in northern Mexico.

Size:
These large eagles are 70-102 cm long and have a wingspan of 180-230 cm. They weigh 3-6,3 kg.

Habitat:
The bald eagle breeds in forested areas near large bodies of water, including boreal forests, temperate forests and mangroves. They forage in freshwater lakes, rivers, both sandy and rocky shorelines and estuaries, and to a lesser extent on forests, grasslands and scrublands. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on fish, such as salmon, herring, shad, catfish, carp, sand lance and bass. To a lesser extent they also eat birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates such as crabs, and mammals including rabbits and muskrats, and also carrion.

Breeding:
Bald eagles breed in February-July. They are monogamous and mate for life. The nest is built by both sexes and consists of a very large structure made of sticks, grass, moss and cornstalks, lined with lichen, fine woody material, downy feathers and green leaves. It is placed in at the top of a tall tree, usually above the forest canopy, or sometimes also on a cliff or even on the ground. There the female lays 1-3 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 34-36 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 56-98 days after hatching. Sometimes the oldest chick  attacks and kills its younger siblings early in the nesting period. They reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 70.000-300.000 individuals. After serious declines until the 1960s, caused by persecution and the effects of pesticides such as DDT, the bald eagle as undergone an incredible recovery, with its population increasing over 70% per decade over the last 4 decades.

Galapagos hawk

Buteo galapagoensis

Photo by Mark Putney (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Galapgos hawk (en); bútio-das-Galápagos (pt); buse des Galapagos (fr); ratonero de las Galápagos (es); Galapagosbussard (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Galapagos islands of Ecuador, being found in the islands of
Santiago, Española, Isabela, Fernandina, Pinta, Marchena, Pinzón and Santa Fe.

Size:
These large hawks are 55 cm long and have a wingspan of 120 cm. They weigh 650-850 g.

Habitat:
The Galapagos hawk is found in all types of habitats found in the Galapagos islands, including bare lava fields, coastal areas, open rocky and scrubby areas, deciduous forests and mountain peaks. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They hunt seabirds such as shearwaters and boobies, doves, rats, lizards, iguanas and invertebrates. They are also known to take carrion and follow fishing boats and hunters for scraps.

Breeding:
Galapagos hawks can breed all year round. They are polyandrous, with one female mating with several males, all of which help rear the young. The nest is a large stick structure lined with grass, bark, leaves and other available soft materials, and placed on low branches of a tree, in a lava outcrop or on the ground. There the female lays 2-3 greenish-white eggs with brown spots, which are incubated for 37-38 days. The chicks fledge 50-60 days after hatching. They reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a restricted breeding range and a global population estimated at just 270-330 individuals. The population is believed to be stable, but its small size and restricted range makes it susceptible to human persecution and predation or competition by invasive species such as feral cats. Lack of genetic diversity may pose a further threat to this population.