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SHORT-TAILED HAWK  Buteo brachyurus 41–46cm, WS 86–102cm. Wide­

spread small buteo, rarely seen perched; despite the name, tail not strikingly

short. Light morph and dark morph both frequent, sometimes together in pairs.

Usually seen as singles or pairs soaring over semi-open and wooded habitats; also

towns, mangroves. Hunts from flight, stooping on prey. Often among mid–late

morning kettles of vultures and other hawks. In flight note slightly tapered

wingtips, slightly pinched-in trailing edge to wings, dusky secondaries vs. whiter

primaries; soars with wings flat but distinctively curled up at tips. On perched

birds, note long wings reaching near tail tip, tawny wash on sides of neck. Cf.

Zone-tailed Hawk, dark-morph Broad-winged Hawk. SOUNDS: Slightly modulated or overslurred whistled

scream, wheéeu or klee-ee, usually in short series. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes,

locally to 2000m. (Mexico and sw. US to S America.)

ZONE-TAILED HAWK  Buteo albonotatus 45–53cm, WS 122–137cm. Fairly

large, long-winged buteo easily passed off in flight as a Northern Turkey Vulture

(TV). Occurs in varied open and wooded habitats from ranchland and towns to

marshes and forest edge. Usually singles, soaring and gliding with wings in a

shallow V much like TV, with which it often associates in kettles and at roosts.

Smaller than TV with narrower, more even-width wings; yellow cere often stands

out against feathered gray head. Appreciably larger than Short-tailed Hawk, with

longer wings and tail, different flight manner. On perched birds, cf. stockier

Common Black Hawk. Adult has bold white tail band below; juv. has finely

barred flight feathers. SOUNDS: Mostly silent. Near nest may give a slightly rough to piercing scream, about

1 sec. STATUS: Scarce to uncommon on both slopes, to 1500m; most widespread Oct–Apr, and breeding

status unclear in much of Costa Rica. (Mexico and sw. US to S America.)

CRANE HAWK  Geranospiza caerulescens 46–54cm, WS 92–105cm. Lanky,

fairly small-headed hawk of varied semi-open and forested habitats, from man­

groves and ranchland to forest and plantations; often near water. Distinctive:

note very long red legs, small head with red eyes, gray cere (no yellow in face),

long tail with 2 white bands. In flight note variable band of white spots across

primaries. Clambers around in trees, using its long double-jointed legs to reach

into crevices and cavities for prey, flapping its wings for balance. Wingbeats

rather loose, slow, and floppy, suggesting a larger bird; soars on flattish wings,

mainly for short periods in mid-morning. In display flight, flap-flap-flap-glide

progression over canopy interrupted by brief climbs with quicker loose flaps, then glides back to original

level. Juv. has grizzled pale face, amber eyes, red-orange legs, variable pale mottling below; attains

adult plumage in 2nd year. SOUNDS: Slightly plaintive, overall descending whistled scream, WHéeooo.

STATUS: Uncommon and local on both slopes, mainly n. lowlands, rarely to 1000m. (Mexico to S

America.)

SNAIL KITE  Rostrhamus sociabilis 45–51cm, WS 104–119cm. Distinctive,

broad-winged raptor of wetlands and lakes with large snails, virtually its sole

food source. Mostly seen perched overlooking water or quartering over water in

unhurried flight with measured wingbeats and buoyant glides on distinctively

arched wings, dropping to snatch snails with its feet. Usually breeds and roosts

communally. On perched birds note slender bill with long hook, reddish eyes,

long wings projecting to or beyond tail tip, fairly short legs. On flying birds

note flight manner, large white base to fairly short squared tail. Juv. has buff face

and underparts, fading to whitish, duller eyes, yellowish legs; adult female and

2nd-year male have mostly dark underparts, pale face; adult male dark slaty gray overall with deep red

eyes, salmon-orange legs. Attains adult plumage in 3rd year. SOUNDS: Stuttering, harsh creaky cackle, 1–2

secs; varied low rasping calls, including a shrieky shiéhr. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon locally in

nw. lowlands; rare and irregular wanderer elsewhere on both slopes; since 2010s, established at Angostura

reservoir, near Turrialba. (Mexico and se. US to S America.)