Semicollared Hawk Microspizias collaris Scientific name definitions

The Semicollared Hawk is a small, rare hawk of the Andes. It occurs from Colombia south to Peru in cloud forest at intermediate elevations. Adults are slate gray above and white below with heavy black barring. Immatures are either brown or rufous. Similar to the Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus) of lower elevations, the Semicollared Hawk is unique in having a pale nuchal collar and a pale, streaked cheek giving it somewhat of a hooded appearance. It is very poorly known, and there is no available information on its feeding or breeding behavior.

25–30 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 43–53 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Blackish crown and nape, with broken white nuchal collar (separating it from smaller and shorter-tailed Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus), which mainly occurs at lower elevations and has more finely barred underparts); rest of back blackish brown; throat white, underparts white with brownish-black barring; tail gray with five black bands. Iris orange yellow (yellow in juvenile), cere and legs yellow. Female is similar to male, but larger by 4–22%, e.g. wing 168–180 mm, versus 148–162 mm in male (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Distinguished from Plain breasted Hawk (Accipiter striatus ventralis) (A subspecies of Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)) and Bicolored Hawk (Accipiter bicolor) by heavily banded underparts (excluding whitish chin and throat) and relatively small size. Immature has brownish and rufous morphs as in Tiny Hawk, but brownish morph has incomplete rufous nuchal collar, while much commoner rufous morph has conspicuous chestnut collar.

Semicollared Hawk, together with Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus), has long been considered to be part of the genus Accipiter, however both skeletal data (2 Olson, S.L. (2006). Reflections on the systematics of Accipiter and the genus for Falco superciliosus Linnaeus. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 126(1): 69–70. Close ) and genetic data (3 Kocum, A. (2008). Phylogenie der Accipitriformes (Greifvögel) anhand verschiedener nuklearer und mitochondrialer DNA-Sequenzen. Vogelwarte 46(2): 141–143. In German. Close , 4 Oatley, G., R. E. Simmons, and J. Fuchs (2015). A molecular phylogeny of the harriers (Circus, Accipitridae) indicate the role of long distance dispersal and migration in diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 85:150–160. Close , 5 Mindell, D. P., J. Fuchs, and J. A. Johnson (2018). Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes. In Birds of Prey (J. Sarasola, J. Grande and J. Negro, Editors), Springer, Cham, Switzerland. pp. 3–32. Close ) have found that both of these species do not belong in Accipiter. It has been recommended that they be transferred to their own genus, in which case the name Hieraspiza had been suggested as available (2 Olson, S.L. (2006). Reflections on the systematics of Accipiter and the genus for Falco superciliosus Linnaeus. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 126(1): 69–70. Close ), but the type species of that genus is Besra (Accipiter virgatus) (6 Dickinson, E. C., and J. V. Remsen, Editors (2013). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Fourth edition. Volume 1. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close ), as nominated by genus author, Kaup, prior (7 Kaup, J.J. (1845). Ueber Falken, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der in Museum der Senckenbergischen naturforschenden Gesellschaft aufgestellten Arten. Mus. Senckenbergianum 3(3): 229–262. In German. Close ) to G. R. Gray’s subsequent (and therefore irrelevant) selection of “Falco tinus” (a synonym of Tiny Hawk) as the type. As these two species do not appear to be particularly close to any other species, and no prior name appears to be available for them, Sangster et al. (8 Sangster, G., G. M. Kirwan, J. Fuchs, E. C. Dickinson, A. Elliott, and S. M. S. Gregory (2021). A new genus for the tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and semicollared hawk A. collaris (Aves: Accipitridae), with comments on the generic name for the crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps. Vertebrate Zoology 71:419–424. Close ) proposed a new genus for these two species, Microspizias, with Tiny Hawk listed as the type for the genus.

In molecular phylogenetic analyses, Microspizias collaris appears to be sister to Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus) (5 Mindell, D. P., J. Fuchs, and J. A. Johnson (2018). Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes. In Birds of Prey (J. Sarasola, J. Grande and J. Negro, Editors), Springer, Cham, Switzerland. pp. 3–32. Close ). Outside of this close sister relationship, its placement within Accipitridae is less clear, and it may be closest to Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) (5 Mindell, D. P., J. Fuchs, and J. A. Johnson (2018). Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes. In Birds of Prey (J. Sarasola, J. Grande and J. Negro, Editors), Springer, Cham, Switzerland. pp. 3–32. Close ), or it may be closer to the Buteoninae subfamily (4 Oatley, G., R. E. Simmons, and J. Fuchs (2015). A molecular phylogeny of the harriers (Circus, Accipitridae) indicate the role of long distance dispersal and migration in diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 85:150–160. Close ). It is possible that together, Microspizias collaris and Microspizias superciliosus represent an old lineage with no close extant relatives.

Southwest Venezuela (Mérida, Táchira and northwest Barinas) south, on western and eastern slopes of Andes, through Colombia (where recorded also in Santa Marta and northcentral Andes) to Ecuador; recent range extension of 1,500 km to southern Peru (Cuzco), and subsequently discovered in Amazonas and San Martín (northern Peru) (9 Angulo, F. and R. P. Piana (2011). Records of Semi-collared Hawk Accipiter collaris in northern Peru. Cotinga 33:87–89. Close ).

Forest and forest edge, mostly subtropical and moist or wet, at 1,300–1,800 m in Venezuela, 500–1,800 m in Colombia, 1,500–2,200 m in Ecuador, and probably 1,500–2,500 m in Peru; occurs at higher altitude than Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus), but lower than Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter striatus ventralis (a subspecies of Sharp-shinned Hawk).

No information available, but a record from Meta (Colombia) lies outside the otherwise known range (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Very few data available; presumably takes mostly birds, including hummingbirds and observed attacking a flock of Dusky Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus semifuscus) in northwest Ecuador (10 Freile, J. F., and J. A. Chaves (2004). Interesting distributional records and notes on the biology of bird species from a cloud forest reserve in north-west Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 124(1):6–16. Close ), although heavier feet suggest that it may have broader diet than Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus). Sometimes observed hunting in pairs (11 Strewe, R., and C. Navarro (2003). New distributional records and conservation importance of the San Salvador Valley, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern Colombia. Ornitología Colombiana 1:29–41. Close ).

Only known vocalization is a series of four slightly rising high-pitched penetrating tones given in about 0.5 seconds, sounding like quee-kee-kee-kee.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Formerly considered Near Threatened. Little-known species with apparently small population; rare in general, locally somewhat more numerous. Known from a few localities on western and eastern slopes of Andes in southwest Venezuela (Mérida, Táchira, northwest Barinas), Colombia (Santa Marta Mountains (11 Strewe, R., and C. Navarro (2003). New distributional records and conservation importance of the San Salvador Valley, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern Colombia. Ornitología Colombiana 1:29–41. Close , 12 Strewe, R., and C. Navarro (2004). The threatened birds of the Río Frío Valley, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Cotinga 22:47–55. Close ), and south from Norte de Santander and Antioquia) and Ecuador (Pichincha, Cotopaxi (10 Freile, J. F., and J. A. Chaves (2004). Interesting distributional records and notes on the biology of bird species from a cloud forest reserve in north-west Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 124(1):6–16. Close ), Napo and Zamora-Chinchipe), and in southern Peru (Cuzco); in 2010, discovered also in northern Peru (Amazonas and San Martín) (13 Pratolongo, F. A. and R. P. Piana (2011). Records of Semi-collared Hawk Accipiter collaris in northern Peru. Cotinga 33:87–89. Close ), and thought likely to be present at some sites in intervening area. Recorded also in La Paz, western Bolivia, in 2011 (14 Lane, D. F. (2014). New and noteworthy records of birds in Bolivia. Cotinga 36:56–67. Close ). BirdLife International places global population in band 2,500–9,999 individuals, which would approximate to 1,667–6,666 (rounded to 1,500–7,000) mature individuals. Although it is sparsely distributed, and seems to be genuinely rare, there is no evidence that its population is currently in decline. In much of its range, however, there have been major losses of forest, primarily through agricultural expansion, and this continuing habitat destruction could pose a serious threat to the species in the future. It appears to be highly sensitive to human disturbance. Surveys are required in order to gain a reliable estimate of its total population, and to assess its ability to persist in degraded and fragmented habitats. An important conservation measure would be the extension of the protected areas network to include further key areas of surviving habitat, it being known from comparatively few such areas to date, including La Planada (15 Thiollay, J.-M. (1991). Altitudinal distribution and conservation of raptors in southwestern Colombia. Journal of Raptor Research 25(1):1–8. Close ), La Forzosa (16 Cuervo, A. M., P. C. Pulgarín, and D. Calderón (2008). New distributional bird data from the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes, with implications for the biogeography of northwestern South America. Condor 110(3):526–537. Close ), Las Tangaras, Arrierito Antioqueño, El Dorado and Mirabilis (17 Salaman, P., T. M. Donegan, and D. Caro (2010). Checklist of the birds of Colombia. Fundación ProAves, Bogotá, Colombia. Close ) reserves (Colombia), Otonga Reserve (Ecuador) (10 Freile, J. F., and J. A. Chaves (2004). Interesting distributional records and notes on the biology of bird species from a cloud forest reserve in north-west Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 124(1):6–16. Close ) and Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary and close to Manu Biosphere Reserve (Peru) (13 Pratolongo, F. A. and R. P. Piana (2011). Records of Semi-collared Hawk Accipiter collaris in northern Peru. Cotinga 33:87–89. Close ).