White-tailed Hawk

Buteo albicaudatus

Silhouette: Lauren Anderson · PhyloPic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusButeo (Buteos)
SpeciesButeo albicaudatus (White-tailed Hawk)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

2 Verified sightings at Ostional Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026

1,693 Verified sightings across all 43 parks From 2019 to 2026

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

About the White-tailed Hawk

The white-tailed hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) is a large bird of prey species found in tropical and subtropical environments of the Americas. The white-tailed hawk is found from the coastal of Texas and the Rio Grande Valley south to central Argentina. Its range also includes many Caribbean islands in the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad and Tobago. It prefers open or semi-open regions up to 2,000 ft (c. 600 m) ASL, with few trees to obstruct flight. It is not a migratory bird, though some populations may make regional movements when food is scarce. It commonly perches on bushes, trees, or telephone poles, stands on the ground, or engages in soar. Generally, it prefers arid habitats and rarely occurs in areas with heavy rainfall.

Though it may disappear from unsuitable locations following habitat fragmentation, it has a wide range and is not considered to be a globally threatened species by the IUCN. The white-tailed hawk is a large, stocky hawk. It is similar in size to Swainson's (Buteo swainsoni) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), with mean measurements slightly larger than the former and slightly smaller than the latter. It... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Buteo platypterus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Buteo brachyurus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo albonotatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Buteogallus anthracinus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Rupornis magnirostris

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Geranospiza caerulescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Harpagus bidentatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteogallus urubitinga

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Ictinia plumbea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Leptodon cayanensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~60%
2	Serra da Canastra National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~30%
3	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~10%
4	Chapada Diamantina National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
5	Itatiaia National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
6	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
7	Serra dos Órgãos National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~10%
8	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	~10%
9	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
10	Los Nevados National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
11	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
12	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
13	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
14	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
15	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
16	Amboró National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
17	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
18	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
19	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
20	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
21	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
22	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
23	Iguaçu National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
24	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
25	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
26	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	Insufficient data
27	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
28	Noel Kempff Mercado National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	Insufficient data
29	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
30	Cusuco National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
31	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
32	Puracé National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
33	El Palmar National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
34	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
35	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
36	Volcán Barú National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
37	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
38	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	Insufficient data
39	Chingaza National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
40	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
41	Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary	🇧🇿 Belize	Insufficient data
42	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
43	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data

← Back to Ostional Wildlife Refuge

White-tailed Hawk

About the White-tailed Hawk

Recent sightings of White-tailed Hawk in Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Closest Relatives at Ostional Wildlife Refuge

Broad-winged Hawk

Short-tailed Hawk

Gray-lined Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk

Common Black-Hawk

Roadside Hawk

Crane Hawk

Double-toothed Kite

Great Black-Hawk

Plumbeous Kite

Gray-headed Kite

Hook-billed Kite

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found