Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey-backed Hawk
Pseudastur occidentalis
Grey-backed Hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-backed Hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 660 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Pseudastur
- Species occidentalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 660 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-backed 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-backed Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-backed Hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w Ecuador and nw Peru.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 660 g, with a wing length of about 34.6 cm and a tail of around 19.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6,587 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-backed Hawk?
The Grey-backed Hawk is a large bird that weighs around 660 g.
Where does the Grey-backed Hawk live?
The Grey-backed Hawk is found across South America with a range covering SA w Ecuador and nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-backed Hawk belong to?
The Grey-backed Hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Grey-backed Hawk eat?
The Grey-backed Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Grey-backed Hawk migrate?
The Grey-backed Hawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-backed Hawk endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Grey-backed Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Grey-backed 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-backed Hawk's range?
The Grey-backed Hawk has a mapped global range of about 6,587 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.