Photo: lornamolden / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-tailed Hawk
Buteo ventralis
Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species ventralis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-tailed 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 Rufous-tailed Hawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Chile and sw Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 35.9 cm and a tail of around 22.2 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 537,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-tailed Hawk?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Rufous-tailed Hawk live?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk is found across South America with a range covering SA s Chile and sw Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rufous-tailed Hawk belong to?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Rufous-tailed Hawk eat?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Rufous-tailed Hawk migrate?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Rufous-tailed Hawk endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-tailed Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-tailed 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 Rufous-tailed Hawk's range?
The Rufous-tailed Hawk has a mapped global range of about 537,000 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.