Zone-tailed Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk, adult; Arizona

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

Menu

1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A dark, tropical hawk, the Zone-tailed Hawk just reaches the southwestern United States in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Description

Medium-sized to large hawk. Slaty black overall. Tail with two or three light bands. Underwings two-toned, with dark linings and paler flight feathers. Legs and skin on face yellow. Wings held up in slight V when soaring.

• Size: 45-56 cm (18-22 in)
• Wingspan: 119-140 cm (47-55 in)
• Weight: 119-140 g (4.2-4.94 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, female slightly larger.

Sound

Call a high, harsh scream.

Conservation Status

Increasing in the United States.

Other Names

Buse à queue barrée (Spanish)
Aguililla aura (English)

Cool Facts

• The Zone-tailed Hawk is aggressive in the defense of its nesting territory, attacking animals as large as Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and humans.

• The Zone-tailed Hawk looks very similar in flight to Turkey Vultures, and it often flies with them. It has been suggested that the hawk is a mimic of the vulture and uses its similarity to sneak up on prey that would not hide from vultures.

Sources used to construct this page:

Johnson, R. R., R. L. Glinski, and S. W. Matteson. 2000. Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus). In The Birds of North America, No. 529 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.