Crane Hawk
Geranospiza caerulescens
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusGeranospiza
- SpeciesGeranospiza caerulescens (Crane Hawk)
About the Crane Hawk
The crane hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only species placed in the genus Geranospiza. The crane hawk used to be many species that were recently lumped into one. Those species are now designated as subspecies. Color varies clinally, though, and it is now commonly accepted that they comprise one species. There are also two species of harrier-hawks in Africa of the genus Polyboroides that, while they are morphologically and behaviorally similar, are not very closely related. They serve as a good example of convergent evolution.
Six subspecies are recognised: G. c. livens Bangs & Penard, TE, 1921 – northwest Mexico G. c. nigra (Du Bus de Gisignies, 1847) – Mexico to central Panama G. c. balzarensis Sclater, WL, 1918 – east Panama to northwest Peru
G. c. caerulescens (Vieillot, 1817) – east Colombia to the Guianas to east Peru and Amazonian Brazil G. c. gracilis (Temminck, 1821) – northeast Brazil G. c. flexipes Peters, JL, 1935 – south Brazil to Paraguay, Bolivia, north Argentina and Uruguay
Crane hawks occur in tropical lowlands at the edge of forests and are almost always... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Crane Hawk in Chirripó National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Chirripó National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.