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Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)
[order] Falconiformes | [family] Accipitridae | [latin] Buteogallus meridionalis | [UK] Savanna Hawk | [FR] Buse roussatre | [DE] Savannenbussard | [ES] Busardo Sabanero | [IT] Poiana delle savane | [NL] Savanne-buizerd | [SU] Pingo Aka
Characteristics
The adult is generally rufous brown in colour above and below with the wing quills tipped black. The rufous brown is lighter on the bend of the wing, the wing linings, the thighs, and the bases of the flight feathers. The tail is black with a white band and tip. All of the underside, with the exception of the throat, are narrowly barred with black. The bill is black, the cere yellow, the eyes a dull orange-yellow and the feet and legs pale yellow or orange. There is a white area at each side of the base of the bill, and the crown is streaked with a dusky colour. This hawk has long legs and long broad wings. Both sexes are similar. The length is 46 -61 cm.
Immature have upper parts mostly deep brown, with some rufous mottling on the shoulder, and the tail is black with a mottled greyish area at its centre. Beneath, the immature are buffy white with black areas on the sides of the chest and flanks and scattered blackish streaks elsewhere.
| wingspan min.: | | cm | wingspan max.: | | cm |
| size min.: | 51 | cm | size max.: | 64 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 37 | days | incubation max.: | 43 | days |
| fledging min.: | 40 | days | fledging max.: | 45 | days |
| broods: | 1 | | eggs min.: | 1 | |
| | | | eggs max.: | 2 | |
Click items below to expand
South American range is from Panama to northern Argentina. In Suriname a common breeder in the Savannah and other open areas. Found primarily in low vegetation (grass shrubs), open country, forest edges and mangrove forest. Found up to 1200 meters. Long breeding season from february in Venezuela to november in Argentina. The nest is built of twigs in the branches of an often isolated tree. Clutch size is usuaaly one, but two also possible. One brood. The incubation period is about 39 days. The young fledge after 45-50 days but remain dependent up to 4-7 months after fledging. Known for their low level of nesting success, renesting does occur but also not very successfull. The long caretaking period after fledging compensates for the low nesting success in this species. It is often seen perching with an upright stance on a fence post, low stub, branch of a tree, or even on the ground. From its perch it plunges down to the ground to catch its prey. The Savannah Hawk is an opportunistic feeder, preferring snakes, fish, lizards and frogs. It also eats small mammals, insects, beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, ants and spiders and occasionally birds. It is attracted to grass fires to capture prey escaping from the fire. This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be 100,000-1,000,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. Resident over most of range, with high degree of territory fidelity. Apparently migratory in South, with very large number of individuals (Southern population) reported in Colombia during austral winter. Most common along Paraguay River in June, when probably attracted by more abundant prey associated with high water levels. Transition between migratory and resident populations in South undocumented. article number 1 Title
ECOLOGY AND BREEDING HABITS OF THE SAVANNA HAWK
IN THE LLANOS OF VENEZUELA
Author(s): WILLIAM J. MADER
Abstract: The ecology of the Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis) was studied in the palm-savannas of Venezuela in 1978-1980. Pairs produced only one egg per clutch, no more than one young per calendar year,..[more]..
Source: Condor 84261-271
download full text (pdf)
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