Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ridgway’s Hawk
Buteo ridgwayi
Ridgway's Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) — Birds of Prey of North America.
The Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in North America. Adults weigh 315 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species ridgwayi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 315 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ridgway’s 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 Ridgway’s Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA Hispaniola.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 315 g, with a wing length of about 22.3 cm and a tail of around 14.4 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 210 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ridgway’s Hawk?
The Ridgway’s Hawk is a large bird that weighs around 315 g.
Where does the Ridgway’s Hawk live?
The Ridgway’s Hawk is found across North America with a range covering NA Hispaniola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Ridgway’s Hawk belong to?
The Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Ridgway’s Hawk eat?
The Ridgway’s Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Ridgway’s Hawk migrate?
The Ridgway’s Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ridgway’s Hawk endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Ridgway’s Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Ridgway’s 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 Ridgway’s Hawk's range?
The Ridgway’s Hawk has a mapped global range of about 210 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.