Length: 20 inches | Wingspan: 40 inches | Seasonality: Non-resident in South Dakota |
ID Keys: Dark gray overall, broad white stripes on tail, long range legs, reddish eyes |
The
Crane Hawk is a slim, unusual hawk of the American tropics. They are
normally found in Central America and much of South America, as well as part
of Mexico. They were unknown in the United States until 1988, when a
single Crane Hawk spent the winter in south Texas. Crane Hawks have an
unusual structure with very long legs and relatively small feet. While
Crane Hawks will hunt by flying and spotting prey, much of their hunting is
done by climbing through the forest canopy, reaching into tree cavities or
other nooks and crannies with their long legs, and plucking prey from hiding
spots that other raptors simply often can't reach.
Click below for a higher-resolution map |
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South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota |