AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Buteo brachyurus
Short-tailed Hawk
Vieillot, 1816
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A small, compact Buteo hawk with a notably short tail and relatively long, broad wings. This species is famous for its distinct color polymorphism, existing in two striking color phases with no intermediate forms: the light morph features solid dark-brown upperparts and a contrasting, pristine white underbelly and throat; the dark morph is completely dark sooty-brown to near black all over, except for the pale bases of the flight feathers. The eyes are dark brown, and the cere and legs are bright yellow.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Accipitriformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Accipitridae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Buteo
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Vieillot, 1816
Record Completeness
95%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Inhabits forested landscapes near open country, including tropical lowland forests, pine-oak woodlands, mangroves, and swamp forests. It requires tall trees for nesting and adjacent open fields, savannas, or forest edges to perform its highly specialized aerial hunting maneuvers.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Spends a tremendous amount of time high in the air, soaring or kiting into the wind near cloud-level to scout. Upon spotting an unsuspecting small bird below, it tucks its wings and performs a dramatic, near-vertical aerial dive, dropping down straight into the forest canopy to ambush its prey.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Strictly solitary outside of the breeding season. Pairs form monogamous bonds and defend exclusive nesting territories with aerial displays, but otherwise do not interact socially with conspecifics or participate in communal roosting.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Carnivore (primarily ornithophagous, focusing heavily on small to medium-sized birds).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Acts as an apex avian predator within its canopy niche, specialized in controlling populations of small forest birds, including icterids, tanagers, and wood-warblers. It is occasionally vulnerable to nest predation by larger raptors or arboreal snakes.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Monogamous pairs build a bulky, well-concealed stick nest lined with green leaves high near the top of a mature tree, often cypress, pine, or mangrove. The female lays 2 to 3 bluish-white eggs, incubating them for approximately one month, while the male provides food for both the female and the young nestlings.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
39.0 - 44.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
340 g - 510 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 3
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
2 - 3 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
28 - 32
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males10 - 15 Years
Females10 - 15 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Exceptional aerodynamic design with a short tail and broad wings that allow it to kite (hang motionless in mid-air against the wind) at great heights without flapping, making it virtually invisible to smaller birds on the ground.
Highly specialized talons and a quick aerial diving speed tailored almost exclusively for capturing agile, small passerine birds directly from the outer canopy foliage.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Localized habitat loss due to residential development, clearing of forested wetlands, and logging of mature nesting trees, particularly impacting vulnerable edge populations like those in Florida.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Unlike most other North American Buteo hawks that feed heavily on rodents and reptiles, the Short-tailed Hawk is an extreme ornithophage—with small birds making up over 90% of its total diet.
The dark and light morphs are so visual distinct that early ornithologists frequently misidentified them as entirely separate species before documentation of interbreeding pairs.