Crane Hawk

Crane Hawks are slightly odd-looking, with small heads and long orange legs and they have a gentle call.

They can range in color from solid black to banded gray, have white stripes on their tails, and have red legs.

Birds in the north of the range have red eyes, and those in the south have yellow eyes.

  • Geranospiza caerulescens
  • Length: 15 – 21 in (38 – 54 cm)
  • Weight: 8 – 18 oz (225 – 519g)
  • Wingspan: 30 – 43.7 in (76 – 111 cm)

Range

Crane Hawks are resident in Central and South America and along the coasts of Mexico. They sometimes move north into southern US states depending on conditions.

Habitat And Diet

You can find Crane Hawks in tropical lowlands, gallery forests, wooded swamps, mangroves, and savannahs.

They eat small mammals, lizards, snakes, and birds and are found in wooded areas hunting in the trees for hiding spaces as they have double-jointed legs and can get in places that other birds of prey cannot. They also run in pursuit of prey, soar low in open areas when hunting and drop down from their perch in order to catch their prey.

Crane Hawk Call:

Nests

Nests of Crane Hawks are often found high up in the trees. They are cup-shaped and made out of twigs and sticks lined with green leaves. The female lays one to two eggs which she incubates for around forty days. The male’s responsibility is protecting the female and their young and providing food for them.

Fun Fact:

Crane Hawks are also known as Black Frog Hawks and Wood Hawks.