Tiny Hawk

The Tiny Hawk (Accipiter superciliosus)  Read in Spanish

Appearance: The Tiny Hawk is one of the smallest raptors, with adults typically measuring around 22-25 cm (9-10 inches) in length. They have dark gray upperparts and barred underparts, with distinct white eyebrow stripes above their yellow eyes. Juveniles may have a more streaked appearance than adults.

Habitat: Tiny Hawks inhabit a range of forested habitats, including tropical and subtropical forests, lowland rainforests, and wooded areas near rivers or streams. They can also be found in forest edges, secondary growth, and plantations.

Behavior: These hawks are known for their agile flight and secretive behavior, making them challenging to observe in the wild. They feed primarily on small birds, insects, and possibly small mammals, hunting by surprise attacks from a perch or by quickly maneuvering through dense vegetation. Tiny Hawks are also known to mimic the calls of other bird species, possibly to deceive or confuse their prey.

Breeding: Breeding pairs of Tiny Hawks construct small stick nests in trees, typically placed high in the canopy. They lay 2-3 eggs per clutch, with an incubation period of about 28 days. Both parents participate in incubation and caring for the young, which fledge after approximately 4 weeks.

Conservation Status: The Tiny Hawk is currently categorized as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).