Semiplumbeous Hawk Leucopternis semiplumbeus Scientific name definitions

The Semiplumbeous Hawk is restricted to humid forests in the tropical and subtropical zones the lowlands and foothills from Costa Rica south to the Choco biogeographic region of northwestern South American. It is a distinctly bicolored hawk, dark gray above with a white throat and underparts. In addition, this species has conspicuous  yellow eyes and orange legs and cere. Typical of the genus Leucopternis, it is very poorly known, with virtually no information on its basic natural history. The limited dietary information available suggests that it feeds on lizards and snakes with a sit and wait strategy, much like other species of Leucopternis. Additionally, there are tantalizing records of birds ascribed to this species from western Amazonia, near Iquitos, Peru, which could well turn out to be new population of Semiplumbeous Hawk, or, perhaps, even an undescribed species.

31–36 cm; male 250 g, female 325 g; wingspan 51–64 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Small, stocky , short-winged Leucopternis with strikingly distinctive plumage and bare parts . Entirely lead-grey above , blackish on wings and tail; tail with one or sometimes two narrow white bands; below immaculate white but with wingtips grey, barred dusky. Eyes bright yellow; cere yellow-orange to orange-red; legs and feet orange to orange-red. Female similar but averages c. 10% larger. Immature has white streaks on head, white mottling on mantle, thin black streaks on breast; tail with two white bands (occasionally trace of third band); eyes yellow-brown to yellow; cere orange-yellow to orange; feet orange.

Monotypic.

Extreme E Honduras (2 Anderson, D. L., M. Bonta, and P. Thorn (1998). New and noteworthy bird records from Honduras. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 118(3): 178–183. Close ) and E Nicaragua (3 Sandoval, L. and Arendt, W.J. (2011). Two new species for Nicaragua and other notes on the avifauna of the Atlantic Region and Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor. Cotinga. 33: 50–57. Close ) S to W Colombia (E to Magdalena Valley) and NW Ecuador (Esmeraldas and NW Pichincha). Several recently seen and heard in Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, N Peru, possibly referring to present species or to a closely related new species (4 Álvarez Alonso, J., Díaz Alván, J. and Shany, N. (2012). Avifauna de la Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo Mishana, Loreto, Perú. Cotinga. 34: 132–152. (In Spanish with English summary.). Close ).

Humid forests of tropical and lower subtropical zones; forest edge, in and around forest fragments, and in tall second growth in Colombia. Normally occurs from sea-level to 1000 m (but mostly below 500 m); one report from 1600 m (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Presumably sedentary.

Feeding habits little known. Takes lizards and snakes; one record of an Ameiva lizard; reported attacking birds at an army ant swarm, but presumably also feeds on arthropods fleeing from the ants. Also eats bats and perhaps amphibians and small mammals (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Still-hunts from perch and makes short glides through forest interspersed with rapid wing beats; generally does not soar (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Quite vocal in breeding season, when gives a series of loud, piercing upslurred whistles: "kwee...wee...wee...wee...wee"; also gives single kwee notes. Outside breeding season more silent, but sometimes utters a high-pitched, thin upslurred whistle repeated at intervals.

Almost no information. One anecdotal record of nest-building in crown of tall tree in Costa Rica in Jan; male in breeding condition taken in Colombia in Feb. Eggs apparently undescribed; no information on length of incubation or nestling periods, nesting success or productivity.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Formerly classified as Near Threatened. Although considered locally common in some areas of primary forest, and tolerant of tall second-growth forest, numbers likely declining owing to deforestation and habitat fragmentation (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Entire range <300,000 km². Global population estimated at 1000–10,000 individuals. Much remains to be learned about the biology and population ecology of this distinctive raptor.