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.

European honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Photo by Ulf Gotthardsson (Flickr)

Common name:
European honey-buzzard (en); bútio-vespeiro (pt); bondrée apivore (fr); abejero europeo (es); wespenbussard (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found breeding in Europe and western Asia, from the Iberian Peninsula to south-eastern England and eastern Scandinavia, though western Russia and the Caucasus to south-western Siberia and south to the northern Mediterranean, Turkey and Iran. They migrate south to winter in sub-Saharan Africa down to South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 52-60 cm long and have a wingspan of 135-150 cm. They weigh 440-1.050 g.

Habitat:
The European honey-buzzard is mostly found breeding in mixed deciduous or coniferous forests and woodlands in the temperate and boreal zones, typically where there are open patches and clearings. They can also be found over grasslands and small wetlands. During winter they are found in dry tropical forests and savannas, especially along forest edges. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
These insectivores are specialized on wasps, bees and hornets, attacking their nest to take larvae, pupae and adults. Notably, they are the only known predator of the Asian giant hornet Vespa mandarinia, the largest hornet in the world. They also eat other insects and more rarely frogs, small reptiles, rodents, bird eggs and nestlings, worms, spiders, and even fruit.

Breeding:
European honey-buzzards breed in April-August, typically during the peak in abundance of bees and wasps. The nest is built by the female, with sticks, twigs and live plant materials, often using old squirl or crow nests as a foundation. The nest is lined with small green branches and leaves and is placed in a tree 7-30 m above the ground. The female lays 1-3 white eggs with heavy reddish-brown markings, which are incubated by both parents for 30-35 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, fledging 40-44 days after hatching and becoming independent at 1-2 months later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 350.000-1.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Grey-backed hawk

Leucopternis occidentalis

Photo by Dusan Brinkhuizen (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
grey-backed hawk (en); gavião-de-dorso-cinzento (pt); buse à dos gris (fr); busardo dorsigrís (es); graurückenbussard (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is only found in western Ecuador and adjacent parts of north-western Peru, having a very fragmented range.

Size:
These birds are 45-48 cm long.

Habitat:
The grey-backed hawk is found in deciduous and evergreen tropical forests, including dry forests, moist forests and cloud forests, at altitudes of 100-2.900 m.

Diet:
They have a very diversified diet, the largest proportion consisting of reptiles, but also mammals, birds, crabs, amphibians, large insects such as beetles and katydids, and earthworms. The most common prey are snakes and rice rats Oryzomys.

Breeding:
Grey-backed hawks can breed all year round. The nest is a small, well hidden structure, made of fresh and dry sticks and lined with green sprigs and green leaves. It is placed in a tree 14-35 m above the ground. The female lays a single, unmarked, bluish-white egg, which she incubates alone for 36 days while the male brings her food. The chick fledges 10-12 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a small and highly fragmented breeding range. The global population is estimated at just 250-1.000 individuals and is suspected to be declining at a moderately rapid rate. The main threat to the grey-backed hawk is the extensive habitat destruction and fragmentation throughout its range, with over 90% of west Ecuador now deforested due to clearance for timber and agriculture, and intense grazing pressure from goats and cattle in the forest understorey. Human persecution is also a major threat in some areas.

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatus

(Photo from Lee's Birdwatching Adventures)

Common name:
bateleur (en); águia-bailarina (pt); bateleur des savanes (fr); águila volatinera (es); gaukler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and southern Mauritania to Sudan and Ethiopia and south to northern Namibia and northern South Africa. They are also found along the Red Sea coast of Yemen and south-western Saudi Arabia.

Size:
These birds are 55-70 cm long and have a wingspan of 160-180 cm. They weigh 1,8-2,9 kg.

Habitat:
The bateleur is found in dry savannas, grasslands, woodlands and scrublands, from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They have a broad diet, including mammals from shrews to small antelopes, birds from starlings to large hornbills, snakes, lizards, frogs, insects and dead fishes.

Breeding:
Bateleurs are monamous, solitary nesters. They can breed all year round and the nest is built mainly by the female, consisting of a thin stick platform lined with green leaves. It is typically placed in the fork of a large leafy tree. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated by both sexes for 52-59 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 90-125 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 1 month later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has an extremely large breeding range, but the global population size is estimated as just 10.000-100.000 individuals. Declines have taken place across much of their range, owing to habitat loss caused by agricultural intensification, and poisoning by poisoned baits and pesticides. The overall rate of decline is difficult to quantify but is suspected to be moderately rapid.

Short-toed snake-eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Photo by Denis Haltebourg (Nunda Foto)

Common name:
short-toed snake-eagle (en); águia-cobreira (pt); circaète Jean-le-Blanc (fr); águila culebrera (es); schlangenadler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found  breeding from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco in the west, through southern and central Europe as far north as the Baltic and through Turkey and southern Russia, into the Caucasus and the Middle East and as far east as southern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and northern Afghanistan. They migrate south to winter in sub-Saharan Africa across the Sahel belt and in the Indian sub-continent.

Size:
These birds are 62-70 cm long and have a wingspan of 170-190 cm. They weigh 1,2-2,3 kg.

Habitat:
The short-toed snake-eagle uses a wide range of habitats, usually preferring mixed areas which include forested areas for nesting and open areas rich with reptiles. They are found in temperate forests, dry savannas, grasslands, dry scrublands and even deserts. This birds occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.300 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on snakes of up to 1,5 m in length, but also other reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and rarely other birds and invertebrates.

Breeding:
Short-toed snake-eagles breed in April-October. The nest is relatively small for such a large bird, being constructed from sticks and twigs and lined with green leaves or grass. It is usually placed in a tree, or more rarely on a cliff ledge. There the female lays a single white egg, which she mostly incubates alone for 45-47 days. The chick is fed by both parents and fledges 60-80 days after hatching. It becomes independent soon after fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population size estimated at 51.400-156.000 individuals. In the past, this population suffered declines caused by habitat loss and shooting. At present, although there is still some illegal shooting in wintering and migration areas, like Malta, the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Pallas's fish eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Photo by Johan Stenlund (PBase)

Common name:
Pallas's fish eagle (en); águia-de-Pallas (pt); pygargue de Pallas (fr); pigargo de Pallas (es); bindenseeadler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in central Asia, from Kazakhstan to Mongolia and northern China, and south to northern India and Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and southern China.

Size:
This large eagle is 72-84 cm long and has a wingspan of 180-215 cm. They weigh 2-3,7 kg.

Habitat:
The Pallas's fish eagle is found in inland wetlands, namely large freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes and along river and creeks, from sea level up to an altitude of 5.000 m.

Diet:
They mainly eat fish, which they take from the water surface rather than by plunge-diving. They are also know to eat frogs, turtles, reptiles and other birds, and often consume carrion or steal food from other predators such as ospreys.

Breeding:
Pallas's fish eagle breed in November-July. The nest is a huge platform of sticks lined with hay, rushes, straw, fine twigs and green leaves, placed on a tree or even on the ground, along the edges of lakes and rivers. There the female lays 2-4 white eggs, which are mostly incubated by the female for 40-45 days, while the male brings her food. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-15 weeks after hatching, but invariably the last chick to hatch will die, as it cannot compete effectively with its older siblings for food from its parents.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a very large breeding range, but the global population is estimated at just 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population currently declining at a moderate rate, mostly because of the loss, degradation and disturbance of wetland habitats and adjacent nesting trees throughout its range. Pollution and eutrophication of wetlands, together with over-fishing are major threats to this species, as is the constrution of hydroelectric dams. Hunting may be a localized problem in parts of China.

Cooper's hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Photo by Seth Cutright (A Hawk Counters World)

Common name:
Cooper's hawk (en); gavião-de-Cooper (pt); épervier de Cooper (fr); gavilán de Cooper (es); rundschwanzsperber (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found breeding throughout the United States and southern Canada and winters in the southernmost parts of the United States, in Mexico and in Central America down to Costa Rica.

Size:
These birds are 37-45 cm long and have a wingspan of 62-90 cm. Males are smaller than females, weighing 220-410 g while females weigh 330-680 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in temperate forests and woodlands, but also in scrublands, tropical and sub-tropical forests, rural gardens and even within urban areas. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
The Cooper's hawk mainly hunts birds, such as starlings, doves, pigeons, robins, jays, flickers, quails, grouse, pheasants and chickens. They also take rodents, bats and occasionally reptiles and amphibians.

Breeding:
These birds breed in March-July. The nest is a pile of sticks lined with bark flakes and, sometimes, green twigs. It is placed in a large tree 8-16 m above the ground. The female lays 3-6 bluish to greenish-white eggs with darker spots, which she mostly incubates alone for 30-36 days while receiving food from the male. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 27-34 days after hatching, but continue to receive food from parents for another 2 months.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The Cooper's hawk has a very large breeding range and, after the declines causes by pesticides and persecution until the 1970s, the population is now recovering at a rate of 37% per decade.

Indian spotted eagle

Aquila hastata

(Photo from Nitins)

Common name:
Indian spotted eagle (en); águia-índia (pt); aigle lancéolé (fr); águila moteada hindú (es); Indischer schreiadler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in northern India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and possibly also Cambodja.

Size:
These birds are 59-67 cm long and have a wingspan of 154-168 cm. They weigh 1,4-1,8 kg.

Habitat:
Indian spotted eagle are mostly found in open tropical forests, but also in arable land, plantations and wetlands. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt several mammals, birds and reptiles, namely oriental garden lizards Calotes versicolor and Indian field mouses Mus booduga.

Breeding:
Indian spotted eagles breed in March-July. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest which is usually placed in a coconut tree Cocus nucifera. the female lays a single egg which is incubated by both parents for 25-32 days. The chick is fed by both parents and fledges 9-11 weeks after hatching, but only becomes fully independent some 5 months later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a very large breeding range, but the global population is estimated at just 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population is thought to be in decline at a slow to moderate rate, owing to on-going conversion and disturbance of forested habitats within its range.

Red kite

Milvus milvus

Photo by Thomas Kraft (Wikipedia)

Common name:
red kite (en); milhafre-real (pt); milan royal (fr); milano real (es); rotmilan (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
The red kite is almost entirely restricted to Europe, being found from southern Sweden and the Baltic, through Poland and Germany and into France, Great Britain, Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. There is also small population in Morocco.

Size:
These birds are 60-73 cm long and have a wingspan of 150-179 cm. They weigh 800-1.300 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in open temperate forests, scrublands and grasslands, but are also common over pastures, agricultural areas and even inside urban areas.

Diet:
Red kites are mostly scavengers, taking a wide range of animal carrion including sheep, rabbits, birds and even waste from refuse dumps. They also hunt small animals such as reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, fishes, insects and earthworms.

Breeding:
These birds are monogamous and may pair for life. They breed in April-August and the nest is an untidy platform made of sticks and twigs and lined with wool and sometimes pieces of paper, plastic or cloth. The nest is placed in a fork in a tree, typically an oak, beech or pine, 12-20 m above the ground. The female lays 1-4 white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which she incubates alone for 32-33 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 48-54 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 42.000-51.000 individuals. After a generalized decline until the 1970s, some populations are now increasing or stable, but further declines are being witnessed in core breeding areas such as Spain, France and Germany, so the overall population trend is still negative. The main threat to the red kite is illegal direct poisoning and indirect poisoning from pesticides and rodent bait, but other threats include habitat loss due to agricultural intensification, electrocution and collision with power lines and wind turbines, hunting and trapping, road-kills, deforestation, egg-collection and possibly competition with the generally more successful black kite M. migrans.

Cape vulture

Gyps coprotheres

(Photo from ELLF)

Common name:
Cape vulture (en); abutre-do-Cabo (pt); vautour chassefiente (fr); buitre de El Cabo (es); Kapgeier (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This species is found in southern Africa, being patchily distributed across Namibia, southern Zimbabwe, south-eastern Botswana , southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa. They sometimes wander across the border into Angola.

Size:
These birds are 95-115 cm long and have a wingspan of 225-250 cm. They weigh 7-11 kg.

Habitat:
Cape vultures are found in open grasslands, savannas, scrublands and deserts, and often roost on crags in mountain slopes.

Diet:
They are obligate scavengers, eating the carcasses of medium and large-sized mammals.

Breeding:
The Cape vulture breeds in April-December. They are monogamous and nest in colonies of up to 1.000 pairs. The female builds the nest, a bulky platform of sticks, twigs and dry grass, lined with smaller sticks and grass. The nest is placed in a cliff ledge an is often used over several breeding seasons. The female lays a single white egg with brown streaks, which is incubated by both sexes for 55-59 days. The chick is raised by both parents and fledges 4-6 months after hatching, but only becomes fully independent up to 8 months later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 8.000-10.000 individuals. The population is declining at a moderate to fast rate, with dramatic declines of 60-70% being recorded in eastern South Africa in 1992-2007. This decline is caused by a multitude of threats, including accidental poisoning on agricultural land, electrocution on pylons, collision with overhead cables and with vehicles, food-stress during chick-rearing, persecution for traditional medicines, disturbance at colonies, and drowning. The use of the anti-inflamatory drug Diclofenac in cattle is also a serious problem as it is fatal to vultures eating livestock carcasses.

Crowned solitary eagle

Harpyhaliaetus coronatus

(Photo from Flickriver)

Common name:
crowned solitary eagle (en); águia-cinzenta (pt); buse couronnée (fr); águila coronada (es); zaunadler (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Falconiformes
Family Accipitridae

Range:
This South American species is found in southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 75-85 cm long and have a wingspan of 170-185 cm. They weigh 2,9-3,5 kg.

Habitat:
Crowned solitary eagles are found in semi-open areas of seasonally dry country, including palm savanna, sparse woodlands, steppes with bushes, chaco and campo cerrado. They have also been recorded in gallery forests, marshes and palm groves. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
These powerful hunters take a wide range of prey including armadillos, skunks, weasels, hares, rodents, monkeys, snakes, lizards and even fishes and domestic lambs. They occasionally also eat birds, including tinamous and poultry.

Breeding:
Crowned solitary eagles breed in July-November. They build a platform made of sticks and branches, on a main fork in a tall tree. There the female lays a single white egg with grey or yellow spots. The female incubates the egg alone for 39-45 days and the chick is fed by both parents, only becoming fully independent after over a year. Consequently, each pair only breeds once every 2 years.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a very large breeding range, but it occurs at very low densities and the global population is estimated at just 250-1.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be undergoing a moderate decline, caused by habitat destruction, hunting and persecution. Large areas of campo cerrado habitats are being rapidly destroyed by mechanised agriculture, intensive cattle-ranching, afforestation, invasive grasses, excessive use of pesticides and annual burning. Persecution, including shooting and deliberate disturbance, may be a significant threat in central Argentina and Paraguay.