Photo: HowardB / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Variable Hawk
Geranoaetus polyosoma
Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 783 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 Geranoaetus
- Species polyosoma
Quick facts
- Weight
- 783 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Variable Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Variable Hawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA w, Southern Cone.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 783 g, with a wing length of about 40.2 cm and a tail of around 19.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Variable Hawk?
The Variable Hawk is a large bird that weighs around 783 g.
Where does the Variable Hawk live?
The Variable Hawk is found across South America with a range covering SA w, Southern Cone, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Variable Hawk belong to?
The Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Variable Hawk eat?
The Variable Hawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Variable Hawk migrate?
The Variable Hawk is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Variable 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 Variable Hawk make?
1 real field recording of the Variable Hawk — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Variable Hawk's range?
The Variable Hawk has a mapped global range of about 3.2 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.