Grande Buse noire

En bref

  • Scientific Name: Buteogallus urubitinga
  • Spanish Name: Águila negra
  • Famille : Accipitridae
  • Known Nicknames: Great Black Buzzard, Brazilian Eagle, Urubitinga
  • Average Length: 56–64 cm / 22–25 in
  • Average Weight: 1.1–1.5 kg / 2.4–3.3 lb
  • Wingspan: 120–140 cm / 47–55 in
  • Key Feature: Predominantly black plumage with a white band across the base of the tail and a yellow cere and legs
  • Primary Diet: Carnivore (feeds on fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and carrion)
  • Range: From southern Mexico through Central America to northern Argentina, including Trinidad and Tobago
  • Habitat: Tropical lowland forests, savannas, marshes, and river edges
  • Structure sociale : Solitaires ou en couples
  • Nesting/Breeding: Large stick nest placed high in a tree, often near water
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The Great Black Hawk (*Buteogallus urubitinga*) is a formidable raptor of Central and South American lowland forests and wetlands, distinguished by its nearly entirely sooty-black plumage as an adult, which contrasts sharply with a single, striking white band across the base of its tail and bright yellow cere and legs. Unlike many other dark hawks, it possesses exceptionally long, powerful legs and large feet, a unique adaptation for stalking and grasping prey both in trees and on the ground—including snakes, large insects, fish, and small mammals. A special feature is its slow, deliberate hunting style, often seen walking along riverbanks or tree branches, and its distinctive, high-pitched, whistled call that echoes through the mangroves. With a robust body and broad wings spanning up to four feet, this bird of prey exudes a quiet, patient power, making it a master ambusher in its dense, humid habitat.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the Great Black Hawk isn't entirely black; juveniles have a striking, almost harrier-like plumage of brown, white, and buff that makes them look like a completely different species for years. It has a bizarre habit of following army ant swarms on the forest floor, not to eat the ants, but to snatch the panicked lizards, frogs, and insects that flee the colony. This hawk is also a surprisingly adept swimmer, often wading into shallow water or even diving from a perch to catch fish and crabs with its long legs, a behavior more typical of a heron than a raptor.

Habitats et répartition

The Great Black Hawk inhabits a variety of lowland and foothill forested environments, primarily favoring humid tropical forests, gallery forests along rivers, and mangrove swamps. It is also found in wooded savannas, forest edges, and occasionally in open areas with scattered trees, but it generally avoids dense, unbroken rainforest interiors. The species has a broad Neotropical distribution, ranging from southeastern Mexico and Central America through much of South America east of the Andes, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Its range extends from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters in elevation.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Great Black Hawk is generally solitary or found in pairs, maintaining a monogamous bond that likely persists across multiple breeding seasons. Courtship involves aerial displays, where the pair soars in tight circles and performs mutual calling. They build a large stick nest high in a tree, often reusing and adding to the same platform annually. The female typically lays one or two eggs, which are incubated primarily by her while the male provides food. A unique aspect of their reproductive strategy is an extended period of parental care; the fledglings remain dependent on the adults for several months after leaving the nest, learning to hunt by shadowing the parents and receiving food subsidies well into their first year, which increases survival rates for the single chick that usually survives.

Alimentation

The Great Black Hawk is a versatile and opportunistic predator with a diet that reflects its coastal and wetland habitats, relying heavily on aquatic and semi-aquatic prey. It primarily feeds on fish, crabs, frogs, and small reptiles, often hunting by wading in shallow water or striking from a low perch. Interestingly, this hawk is known for its specialized hunting technique of stealing food from other birds, particularly from herons and egrets, by harassing them until they drop their catch. Another notable fact is its consumption of large terrestrial insects like grasshoppers and beetles, especially during the breeding season when chicks require high-protein food, and it has been observed feeding on carrion, including dead fish and stranded marine animals, when live prey is scarce.

Couleurs

The adult Great Black Hawk is predominantly sooty black with a white band across the base of the tail and a single white tail band near the tip. Its cere and legs are bright yellow, and it has a distinct white patch at the base of the primary wing feathers, visible in flight. Juveniles are brown with heavy dark streaking and mottling, providing camouflage in dappled light. Unlike many raptors, it lacks bold facial markings, relying on its uniform dark coloration to blend into shadowed forest understories.