Vulnerable
In accordance with IUCN criteria, a species is considered to be Vulnerable if it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Species data
Class
Aves
Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Accipitridae
Scientific Name
Pseudastur occidentalis
Reserve locations
Ecuador
This large bird of prey has clean white underparts, a dark grey back and wings and a streaked head. Its white tail shows a thick black band near the tip, which is particularly visible in flight.
Behaviour
The Gray-backed hawk has a varied diet, consisting of lizards, small birds and mammals. In display flights, one bird will dive almost vertically for several hundred metres.
Habitat
Dry and semi-humid forest areas, occasionally wandering into wetter habitats. It is found in Ecuador and northern Peru.
Threats and Conservation
Gray-backed hawks suffer from the logging of their forest habitats, for commercial forestry and to make way for cattle ranching and agricultural operations. The population is declining and there are believed to be less than 1,000 individuals left.
