CR

Ridgway's Hawk

Buteo ridgwayi

Increasing

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Buteo ridgwayi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and dogs, pose significant threats to nesting birds and juveniles. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks, while climate change may alter the montane forest ecosystems it depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

Buteo ridgwayi inhabits montane forests and forest edges in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, typically at elevations between 500-2000 meters. The species prefers areas with mixed pine and broadleaf forests that provide suitable nesting sites and adequate prey availability.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorRocky areas· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationFormal educationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Ridgway's Hawk classified as Critically Endangered?
Ridgway's Hawk is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Buteo ridgwayi faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and dogs, pose significant threats to nesting birds and juveniles. The species' extremely small population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks, while climate change may alter the montane forest ecosystems it depends upon.
Where does Ridgway's Hawk live?
Ridgway's Hawk occurs in Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Ridgway's Hawk?
The main threats to Ridgway's Hawk are 1.1, 12.1, 2.1, and 2.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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