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Migratrice

• Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus
• Spanish Name: Gavilán aliancho
• Famille : Accipitridae
• Known Nicknames: Broad-wing, Broad-winged buzzard
• Average Length: 34–45 cm / 13.4–17.7 in
• Average Weight: 265–560 g / 9.3–19.8 oz
• Wingspan: 81–100 cm / 32–39 in
• Key Feature: Broad, equal-width black and white bands on the tail
• Primary Diet: Carnivore (small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects)
• Range: Eastern North America (breeding); Central and South America (wintering)
• Habitat: Dense deciduous or mixed forests near water or openings
• Social Structure: Solitary while nesting; highly gregarious in massive flocks called 'kettles' during migration
• Nesting/Breeding: Stick nests lined with bark and greenery, typically in the crotch of a tree
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : Stable

The Broad-winged Hawk (*Buteo platypterus*) is a small, stocky forest raptor celebrated for its remarkable migratory spectacles and distinct, piercing whistle. Easily identified by its compact frame, dark brown upperparts, and white underparts barred with cinnamon-brown, its most striking feature is a tail marked by bold, equal-width bands of black and white. While these secretive hunters spend the summer months tucked within dense deciduous canopies preying on small mammals and amphibians, they are world-famous for their autumn journeys. During migration, thousands of Broad-winged Hawks gather in swirling, mountainous columns of rising air known as "kettles," creating a breathtaking celestial river as they travel en masse from North America to their wintering grounds in Central and South America.

Faits amusants

Broad-winged hawks are most famous for their spectacular "kettles," where thousands of individuals spiral together in rising warm air currents during migration, creating a massive, swirling river of raptors in the sky. Unlike many other large hawks, they possess a surprisingly high-pitched, thin whistle that sounds more like a small songbird than a powerful predator. They are also opportunistic hunters known to snatch up unusual prey like young turtles and frogs, and they have a peculiar habit of "decorating" their nests with fresh sprigs of greenery, which may serve as a natural pesticide or a signal to other birds that the territory is occupied.

Habitats et répartition

This hawk primarily inhabits large, contiguous tracts of deciduous or mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. It prefers nesting deep within the forest interior, often choosing sites near water sources such as streams or swamps, or close to forest openings and edges that provide clearings for hunting. During the winter months, it seeks out similar forested environments in tropical regions, ranging from montane forests to evergreen lowlands. Its breeding range extends across much of eastern North America, spanning from southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast and reaching as far west as the edge of the Great Plains. As a long-distance migrant, it travels in massive flocks to wintering grounds that stretch from southern Mexico through Central America and into northern South America, primarily along the forested slopes of the Andes.

Comportements & Reproduction

During the breeding season, these raptors are largely solitary and territorial, but they exhibit a highly social nature during migration, forming massive groups called "kettles" that can include thousands of individuals. They are monogamous, with pairs performing elaborate aerial courtship displays that involve high-circling, whistling, and dramatic diving maneuvers. Nesting occurs high in the canopy of deciduous or mixed forests, where they construct stick platforms lined with bark and fresh greenery to help conceal the nest and possibly repel parasites. Females typically lay two to three eggs and handle most of the incubation, while males provide food and defend the immediate territory. Both parents are involved in rearing the young, which fledge about five to six weeks after hatching. A notable reproductive strategy is their tendency toward site fidelity, frequently returning to the same nesting woods each year. Despite their fierce territoriality when breeding, the transition to communal flight during their long-distance journey to South America remains one of their most distinctive behavioral shifts.

Alimentation

The Broad-winged Hawk is a versatile and opportunistic carnivore whose diet primarily consists of small mammals, such as voles and shrews, alongside a significant variety of amphibians and reptiles. These hawks are known for their "sit-and-wait" hunting strategy, often scanning for movement from a low perch before diving to the ground to snatch prey like frogs, toads, and garter snakes. An interesting aspect of their feeding habits is their high degree of adaptability; while they favor forest-dwelling rodents, they are also proficient at catching aquatic creatures like crayfish and large insects such as grasshoppers or dragonflies, especially during their massive seasonal migrations. Furthermore, they are one of the few raptors that frequently target snakes, and they have been observed utilizing a specific safety technique where they decapitate or crush the heads of potentially dangerous prey before consuming them. Small prey is typically swallowed whole, while larger catches are meticulously torn into smaller pieces with their sharp, hooked beaks.

Couleurs

Adult Broad-winged Hawks feature dark brown upperparts and white underparts marked with dense, reddish-brown horizontal barring. Their most distinctive trait is a tail patterned with broad, alternating black and white bands, while their pale underwings are outlined by a sharp dark border. This mottled brown dorsal plumage provides essential camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the shadows of deciduous forest canopies.