Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Also known as:Little Black Hawk

Explore this bird

Identification

40 cm (16") Rare. Florida.

Two color phases. Head and back is always dark. Body and underwings are either all white or all dark. Short barred tail.

Details in the field

2 photos

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 6 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

2 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 1

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Over the entire bird · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:432-short-tailed-hawk:1:1 Source: 432 Short-tailed Hawk, row 1

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:432-short-tailed-hawk:2:1 Source: 432 Short-tailed Hawk, row 2

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:433-short-tailed-hawk-dark-phase:1:1 Source: 433 Short-tailed Hawk (Dark Phase), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:433-short-tailed-hawk-dark-phase:2:1 Source: 433 Short-tailed Hawk (Dark Phase), row 2

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:434-short-tailed-hawk-immature:1:1 Source: 434 Short-tailed Hawk (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southeastern United States

result:434-short-tailed-hawk-immature:2:1 Source: 434 Short-tailed Hawk (Immature), row 2