Sunday, February 26, 2012

>Leucopternis semiplumbeus (Semiplumbeous Hawk)

Semiplumbeous Hawk



Semiplumbeous Hawk
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes (but see there)
Family:Accipitridae
Genus:Leucopternis
Species:L. semiplumbeus
Binomial name
Leucopternis semiplumbeus
Lawrence, 1861
The Semiplumbeous Hawk (Leucopternis semiplumbeus) is a species of bird of prey in theAccipitridae family.
It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The semiplumbeous hawk is a small bird, averaging about 12-13 inches in length (approximately the size of a kestrel or merlin). The semiplumbeous hawk is easily identifiable due to its striking orange cere and black face mask. Rarely seen in flight, these hawks typically perch silently on a high branch, waiting for prey. The semiplumbeous hawk often follows swarms of army ants in order to capture antbirds, which, along with other small songbirds, make up a large portion of its diet. The overall population of semiplumbeous hawks is small - estimated at 1,000 to 10,000 mature birds - and declining.

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