Common Black Hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus

Common Black Hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus. Photograph taken within a residential community in Alamos, Sonora, February 2018. Photograph and identification courtesy of David F Smith, Alamos, Sonora.

Background and Identification

The Common Black Hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus, is a member of the Acciptridae family of Eagles, Hawks, and Kites. This species was almost commonly named the “Aquatic Hawk” for its affinity to water and the shoreline. In the northern part of its range, it even nests in narrow strips of riparian forests that grow along the perennial streams that flow through arid lands. The species’ liking for water also shapes its diet, consisting mostly of fish and other marine organisms (such as crabs). Individuals will, however, opportunistically feed on amphibians, mammals, and small birds. In Mexico, the Common Black Hawk is called Aguililla Negra Menor.

The Common Black Hawk is a large and heavily-set hawk with fairly long legs. Sexes appear similar, called sexual monomorphism. Adults are primarily black with broad wings and a short, broad tail. One of the key identifying features is the white band near the tip of its tail, which contrasts sharply with the otherwise dark plumage. The beak is hooked, robust, and yellow with a black tip, perfectly adapted for tearing into its prey. Its legs are also yellow and strong, designed for grasping and holding onto prey. Juvenile Common Black Hawks are more mottled, with brownish plumage and streaked underparts, which gradually darken as they mature.

Habitat and Geographical Range

The Common Black Hawk is typically found in riparian and wetland areas, often along rivers, streams, and near bodies of water. This preference for aquatic environments is linked to its diet, which consists largely of amphibians, fish, small mammals, and reptiles. During the breeding season, they are known to establish territories near water sources, where they build nests high in the trees and often reuse the same nests year after year.

Geographically, the Common Black Hawk has a range that extends from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America, reaching as far south as parts of northern South America, including Peru and Ecuador. In the United States, it is most commonly found in southwestern states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, although its presence is more frequent in Mexico and Central America. In the southwestern United States, the conservation status of the Common Black Hawk is “threatened” and will most likely remain this way for the foreseeable future. This is due to the degradation of its required habitat, which keeps populations scattered, isolated, and small in numbers.

Common Misidentifications

The large size and entirely black plumage (besides juveniles) of the Common Black Hawk help distinguish it from other species. Two common misidentifications are the Zone-tailed Hawk, Buteo albonotatus and the Great Black Hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga. The Zone-tailed Hawk is more slender and often mimics the flight pattern of vultures, with its tail banded more prominently and typically with more than one band. This species is often seen soaring in open areas, whereas the Common Black Hawk prefers the closer vicinity of water. The Great Black Hawk is similar in size and coloration but is generally larger and has a different tail pattern, lacking the distinctive white band of the Common Black Hawk.

Conservation Perspective

The conservation status of the Common Black Hawk is confusing. The conservation status overall is currently considered to be of Least Concern, however their populations in the United States is decreasing. This is attributed to Its reliance on riparian habitats that makes it vulnerable to habitat destruction, particularly due to deforestation, water pollution, and changes in land use that affect wetland ecosystems. In Central America and Mexico, there are more riparian zones where this species can thrive, so populations in these areas are stable.