White Hawk

Leucopternis albicollis

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusLeucopternis (Leucopternis Hawks)
SpeciesLeucopternis albicollis (White Hawk)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

1 Verified sightings at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve From 2019 to 2026

5,396 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White Hawk

The white hawk (Pseudastur albicollis) is a bird of prey breeding in the tropical New World of the family Accipitridae. Though it is commonly placed in the subfamily Buteoninae, the validity of this group is doubtful and currently under review.

The adult white hawk ranges from 46–56 cm (18–22 in) long with very broad wings and has a white head, body and underwings. The upper wings are black, and the very short tail is black with a broad white band. The bill is black and the legs are yellow.

The sexes are similar, but females are larger and heavier—840 g (1.85 lb) compared to the male's 650 g (1.43 lb). Immature birds have extensive black spotting on the upperparts and dark-streaked whitish underparts. The call of the white hawk is a plaintive kerwee.

There are four subspecies: Pseudastur albicollis ghiesbreghti – Southern Mexico to Nicaragua Entirely white, except for black markings on the outer primaries, and a black sub-terminal tail bar. The eyes are yellow. Pseudastur albicollis costaricensis – Honduras to Panama and Colombia.

Similar to ghiesbreghti but with more distinct black markings on the wings and tail. The eyes are brown. Pseudastur albicollis... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Rupornis magnirostris

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Spizaetus ornatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo platypterus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Accipiter striatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Buteogallus urubitinga

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Spizaetus tyrannus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo brachyurus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Leptodon cayanensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Geranospiza caerulescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Rostrhamus sociabilis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Brownsberg Nature Park	🇸🇷 Suriname	~30%
2	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
3	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
4	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
5	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
6	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	~10%
7	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
8	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	~10%
9	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~10%
10	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
11	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~10%
12	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
13	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
14	El Triunfo	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
15	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
16	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
17	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
18	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
19	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
20	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
21	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
22	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
23	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
24	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
25	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
26	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
27	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
28	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
29	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
30	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
31	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
32	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
34	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
35	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	Podocarpus National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
37	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
38	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
39	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
40	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
41	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
42	Noel Kempff Mercado National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
43	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
44	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
45	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
46	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	Insufficient data
47	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
48	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
49	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data

← Back to Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

White Hawk

About the White Hawk

Recent sightings of White Hawk in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Closest Relatives at Calakmul Biosphere Reserve

Roadside Hawk

Gray-lined Hawk

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

Hook-billed Kite

Broad-winged Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Great Black-Hawk

Black Hawk-Eagle

Short-tailed Hawk

Gray-headed Kite

Crane Hawk

Snail Kite

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found