Common Black Hawk
Buteogallus anthracinus
The common black hawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and vultures.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_black_hawk
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Accipitridae
Genus
Buteogallus
Common Black Hawk belongs to the family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The common black hawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and vultures.
The Common Black Hawk faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation, particularly the destruction of riparian forests and wetland ecosystems essential for its survival. Human development, water diversions, and agricultural expansion have fragmented its specialized habitat requirements, while pollution and climate change further impact prey availability and nesting success.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Riparian forests, wooded canyons, and areas near permanent water sources including rivers, streams, ponds, and marshes, typically below 1,500m elevation. The species requires mature trees for nesting and adjacent wetlands or waterways that support abundant aquatic prey such as fish, frogs, and crustaceans.
Threats
Riparian habitat destruction and fragmentation
Water diversion and wetland drainage
Agricultural expansion and livestock grazing
Pollution affecting aquatic prey species
Urban development in floodplains
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-black-hawk