White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula)

Identification & Behavior: ~42 cm (16.5 in). The White-throated Hawk has a dusky crown and rufous to dusky-brown neck and rest of the upperparts. The sides of the breast and belly are streaked with rufous-brown, but the amount of streaking appears to be variable, perhaps related to sex and age. The throat and center of the underparts are white. The tail is finely barred. The juvenile has dusky upperparts and whitish underparts with broad dusky streaks. It superficially resembles an immature Variable Hawk. Identification of the White-throated Hawk on the west slope of the Andes should be made with caution.

Status: The White-throated Hawk is rare to uncommon on the east slope of the Andes where it generally ranges between 1500 – 3700 m. It is also rare in the humid montane forest of northwest Peru. It is also reported in Polylepis forest on the west slope of the Andes, where it appears to be rare. The White-throated Hawk also occurs in Co, Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Aguilucho de Garganta Blanca.

Sub-species: White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula), R. A. Philippi Sr., 1899.

Meaning of Name: Buteo: Gr. vulture, buzzard. albigula: L. albus= white and gula= throat, gular region.

See more of the Family Accipitridae