Theroadside hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) is a relatively smallbird of prey found in theAmericas. This vocal species is often the most common raptor in its range. It has manysubspecies and is now usually placed in themonotypicgenusRupornis instead ofButeo.[2]
The roadside hawk wasformally described in 1788 by the German naturalistJohann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition ofCarl Linnaeus'sSystema Naturae. He placed it with the eagles, hawks and relatives in thegenusFalco and coined thebinomial nameFalco magnirostris.[3] Gmelin based his description on the "Épervier à gros bec de Cayenne" that had been described and illustrated in 1770 by the French polymathComte de Buffon in his multi-volumeHistoire Naturelle des Oiseaux.[4][5] The roadside hawk is now the only species placed in the genusRupornis that was introduced in 1844 by the German naturalistJohann Jakob Kaup.[6][7] The genus name combines theAncient Greekrhupos meaning "dirt" or "filth" withornis meaning "bird". The specific epithetmagnirostris combines theLatinmagnus meaning "great" with-rostris meaning "billed".[8]
Twelvesubspecies are recognised. Their distributions are as follow:[7][9]
The roadside hawk is 31–41 cm (12–16 in) long and weighs 250–300 g (8.8–10.6 oz).[10] Males are about 20% smaller than females, but otherwise the sexes are similar.[11] In most subspecies, the lower breast and underparts are barred brown and white, and the tail has four or five grey bars. Twelve subspecies are usually recognised and there is significantplumage variation between these. Depending on the subspecies involved, the roadside hawk is mainly brown or grey. It is fairly common to observe a touch ofrufous (i.e., a light reddish-brown) on the bird's wings, especially when seen in flight.[12] Its call is a very high-pitched piercing squeak. The eyes of adult roadside hawks are whitish or yellow. As suggested by itsspecific name, its beak is relatively large.[11]
The roadside hawk is the smallest hawk in the widespread genusButeo;[13] althoughRidgway's hawk and thewhite-rumped hawk are scarcely larger.[11] In flight, the relatively long tail and disproportionately short wings of the roadside hawk are distinctive. It frequently soars, but does not hover.[11]
The roadside hawk is common throughout its range: from Mexico throughCentral America to most ofSouth America east of theAndes Cordillera. Vagrants are occasionally found inTexas in the United States. It is found from the northernCaribbean coast of South America south to the northeastern parts of Argentina. With the possible exception of denserainforests, the roadside hawk is well adapted to mostecosystems in its range. It is also an urban bird, and is possibly the most common species of hawk seen in various cities throughout its range—or perhaps just the most conspicuous one, as it becomes aggressive when nesting and has been recorded attacking humans passing near the nest.[14][15]
The bulky stick nest is lined with leaves and placed near the top of a tree. The clutch of one or two eggs is incubated for around 37 days, beginning after the first egg is laid.[16]
Roadside hawks regularly hunt using the "still hunting" method while patiently waiting for prey. While perch hunting, ahawk will drop or glide down from an elevated position to capture their prey.[19] Though most attempts are successful through this technique, it is crucial to consider that their style ofhunting varies in success depending on the habitat they explore.[20]
^abcdFerguson-Lees, James; Christie, David A. (2001).Raptors of the World. London: Christopher Helm.ISBN0-7136-8026-1.
^As illustrated in:Frisch, J.D.; Frisch, C.D. (2005).Aves Brasileiras e Plantas que as Atraem [Brazilian birds and plants attractive to them] (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Dalgas Ecotec. p. 191.ISBN85-85015-07-1.
^Bierregaard, Richard O.; Boesman, Peter F.D.; Kirwan, Guy M. (4 March 2020)."Roadside HawkRupornis magnirostris".Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved15 September 2022.
^Pereira, José Felipe Monteiro (2008).Aves e Pássaros Comuns do Rio de Janeiro [Common birds of Rio de Janeiro] (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Technical Books Editora. p. 41.ISBN978-85-61368-00-5.
^Thiollay, J. M. (1994)."Roadside hawk". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.).Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. p. 179.ISBN978-84-87334-15-3.
^Whitacre, David (2013).Neotropical Birds of Prey: Biology and Ecology of a Forest Raptor Community. Cornell University Press.ISBN978-0-8014-6611-3.[page needed]
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