Grey Hawk
Buteo plagiatus
Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 519 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species plagiatus
Where it lives
Southwestern USA to northwestern Costa Rica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 519 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw USA to nw Costa Rica.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 519 g, with a wing length of about 26.8 cm and a tail of around 16.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Hawk?
The Grey Hawk is a large bird that weighs around 519 g.
Where does the Grey Hawk live?
The Grey Hawk is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw USA to nw Costa Rica, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey Hawk belong to?
The Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Grey Hawk eat?
The Grey Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Grey Hawk migrate?
The Grey Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey Hawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Grey Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Hawk — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Hawk's range?
The Grey Hawk has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.