Gray Hawk
Buteo plagiatus
Gray Hawks range throughout much of Mexico and Central America. They are resident throughout this range. According to literature, a few (less than 100 pairs) migrate across the Mexican border to breed in the lower Texas Rio Grande Valley and in southern Arizona.
These birds are one of the most unique and beautiful raptors in North America. Some researchers regard them as a monotypic member of the genus Asturina, while others see it as a member of the larger group known as Buteo.
Science views all Gray Hawks north of Costa Rica as monotypic (no subspecies). In the past, the Gray-Lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus) was lumped with the Gray Hawk, but DNA studies have ruled them as a separate species.
Most of my encounters with Gray Hawks have been in southern Arizona (Arivaca and the Santa Rita Mountains). Yet, while visiting Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Mission (Texas), I caught one of these birds flying over me. My most recent encounter was at the National Butterfly Center, where they nest, and I found a juvenile bird having fish for dinner.
12 Photos
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
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Location:
Arivaca Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0654 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
|
Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Creek |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0659 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
|
Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Creek |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0667 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
|
Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Creek |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0685 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
|
Description: Arivaca Creek. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 9:52 |
|
Location:
Arivaca Creek |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X0756 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Florida Canyon on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains, east of Green Valley Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:01 15:42 |
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Location:
Florida Canyon |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GrayHawk-Nest_D5X9616 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: There weren’t many raptors at the park, but these birds sailed over me and afforded a few hand-held images. I returned to Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park Friday, three days after my first brief visit last Tuesday, when cold weather had a firm grip on most live forms. With my repaired bicycle under me, I explored all the paths the park would allow and spent a lovely day capturing wildlife images. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:19 13:11 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GrayHawk_D5X3233-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Contemporary literature suggests the Gray Hawk’s diet is mainly reptilian, with no mention of fish that I found. Yet I photographed an immature bird in Mission Texas that was eating a small fish. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:25 17:57 |
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Location:
Rio Grande River Ride |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GrayHawk_8506933-RioGrandeBoatRide |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
|
Description: Contemporary literature suggests the Gray Hawk’s diet is mainly reptilian, with no mention of fish that I found. Yet I photographed an immature bird in Mission Texas that was eating a small fish. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:25 17:57 |
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Location:
Rio Grande River Ride |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GrayHawk_8506960-RioGrandeBoatRide |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Gray Hawks nest near the National Butterfly Center, and have their offspring to prove it. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:24 17:33 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GrayHawk_8505848-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Gray Hawks nest near the National Butterfly Center, and have their offspring to prove it. I found this juvenile bird having fish for dinner. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:24 17:37 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GrayHawk_8505868-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gray Hawk(Buteo plagiatus) |
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Description: Gardner Canyon Road leaves AZ-83 four miles north of Sonoita and ascends the eastern slopes of the Santa Rita Mountains. I stopped there to spend the night and see what birds I might meet. |
Date Taken: 2023:03:19 12:15 |
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Location:
Gardner Canyon Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GrayHawk_ZX92529_GardnerCanyon_Sonoita-AZ |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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