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TROPICAL FOREST ACCIPITERS

(3 species). Rarely encountered denizens of humid forest,

where relatively short wings and long tails good for maneuvering among trees. Unlike North American

accipiters, not known to engage in flight displays. Habits and often plumage recall forest falcons (next

plate). Hunt from perches in cover, dashing out after small birds and, in the case of Tiny Hawk, large

flying insects such as Morpho butterflies. Sometimes perch on exposed snags in early or mid-morning

sun, and can be confiding when encountered perched inside forest. Northern migrant accipiters are

on p. 114.

TINY HAWK  Accipiter superciliosus 21–24cm male, 26–29cm female, WS

38–48cm. Very small, rather compact, and relatively short-tailed hawk of

humid forest and edge. See genus note. Flight fast, dashing, and agile, usually

in brief bursts when pursuing prey. Note small size, barred underparts on all

plumages. Shorter tailed, more finely and sparsely barred below than migrant

adult Sharp-shinned Hawk (p. 114). Imm. Barred Forest Falcon larger with

longer tail, narrow white tail bars, darker barring below, subtly different face

pattern with dark eyes. Adult female plumage similar to male but washed

browner above, often tinged buff below; juvs. variable, either brown or bright

rusty above. SOUNDS: ‘Song’ a fairly rapid series of high, shrill piping notes, pieh-pieh..., 4–5 notes/sec, in

short series or prolonged for several secs. Other high whistles and chirps may suggest a songbird rather

than a raptor. STATUS: Rare or scarce on both slopes, locally to 1200m. (Nicaragua to S America.)

BICOLORED HAWK  Accipiter bicolor male 33–38cm, female 43–48cm, WS

61–79cm. Rarely seen but widespread hawk of humid forest and edge, adjacent

semi-open areas with trees. See genus note. Flight rapid and direct with quick

wingbeats, brief glides. Adult distinctive, with plain pale gray to smoky gray

underparts, staring amber eyes; rusty thighs often difficult to see. 1st-year has

whitish to rich buff underparts, most likely to be confused with forest falcons,

which share similar habits: note staring pale yellow eyes of Bicolored, subtly

different extent and pattern of bare facial skin; forest falcons have more strongly

graduated tails with narrower, more contrasting whitish bars. Attains adult

appearance in 2nd year. SOUNDS: Much like Cooper’s Hawk of N America, and rarely vocal away from nest.

Adult ‘song’ a variably-paced series of barking clucks, keh-keh-keh..., 4–8 notes/sec; also a downslurred,

rough snarling mew. Juv. has overall descending wheezy scream. STATUS: Uncommon to rare on both slopes,

especially foothills and locally to 2200m. (Mexico to S America.)

GRAY-BELLIED HAWK  Accipiter poliogaster 38–41cm male, 46–51cm female, WS 64–83cm. Very rare

and poorly known, medium-large accipiter of humid forest and edge. See genus note. Flight rapid and

direct with quick wingbeats, brief glides; not known to soar. 1st-year distinctive, except that plumage

resembles much larger and crested adult Ornate Hawk Eagle (p. 134), which has long feathered leggings.

Adult larger and paler below than Bicolored Hawk, with contrasting white throat, pale (not rusty) thighs;

also cf. Slaty-backed Forest Falcon, which has different face pattern with dark eyes, narrow whitish

tail bars. SOUNDS: Usually quiet. ‘Song’ is a series of (usually 4–15) semi-musical, upslurred screaming

whistles, huwieh’ huwieh’..., 3–4/sec; suggests an attila or some other tyrant flycatcher as much as a raptor.

STATUS: Very rare (overlooked?) in Caribbean slope lowlands, with a handful of records since first recorded

Costa Rica in late 2000s; possibly a migrant from S America or range may be expanding north. (S

America; recently s. Cen America.)