Crane hawk

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Crane Hawk
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Aves
Sub-class Neornithes
Infra-class Neoaves
Order Information
Order Accipitriformes
Sub-order Accipitres
Family Information
Superfamily Accipitroidea
Family Accipitridae
Sub-family Accipitrinae
Genus Information
Genus Geranospiza
Species Information
Species G. caerulescens
Population statistics
Conservation status Least concern[1]

Crane hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) is a species of harrier found in much of Latin America.

Description

A medium-sized raptor, the crane hawk is characterized by long slender legs which appear double-jointed; the legs are used to probe and capture prey animals within cavities and holes.

Crane hawks are 14 to 21.3 inches in length, and weigh 7.9 to 18.3 ounces; females are larger than males, with some subspecies larger than others. They are generally gray to dark gray overall, with a pair of thick white bands on the tail, and a white half-moon crescent pattern midway on the primary flight feathers. Primaries are black. The underside is marked with dark, thin horizontal banding. One subspecies is predominately black in color, while in another the banding has increased.

Subspecies

  • Geranospiza caerulescens balzarensis; Panama to western Colombia, Ecuador and northwestern Peru
  • Geranospiza caerulescens caerulescens; Eastern Colombia and Peru, east to northern Brazil and the Guianas
  • Geranospiza caerulescens flexipes; Southern Brazil to Bolivia, northern Argentina and the Paraguayan chacos
  • Geranospiza caerulescens gracilis; Northestern Brazil
  • Geranospiza caerulescens livens; Northwestern Mexico
  • Geranospiza caerulescens nigra; Northern Mexico south to central Panama

References