Buteos are a highly varied group of medium to large sized hawks
that are well known for their soaring abilities. The Buteos have
mastered the art of riding thermal air currents. Buteos may best be
described as very versital: they occupy an incredible amount of different
habitat types, and, as a result of this, have a wide range of food preferences as well.(Dunne 7,9)
Buteos are skilled hunters: some still-hunt from their perches, some circle and dive to get their prey (Scholz 133).
"Twelve species of Buteos breed in North America north of the Rio Grande.
Many are non-migratory" (Dunne 7,8). Because of their tendency to sore, and their preference for open areas,
Buteos are most easily identified by plumage coloration (Dunne 11). Plumage marks are generally bold enough to be
seen at great distances (Dunne 12). In addition, they generally have broad wings and a fan shaped tail.
They are often seen circling overhead.
The North American Buteos vary greatly in size,"ranging from the broad-winged hawk (13 to 17 inches in body length)
up to the large, heavy ferruginous hawk (22 to 27 inches long)" (Scholz 133).
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Dunne, Pete. Hawks in Flight. Houghton Mifflin Co.: New York, 1988. pp. 7-31, 50-52.
Scholz, Floyd. Birds of Prey. Stackpole Books: Mechanicsburg, PA., 1993. p. 133.
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Contact address: Sudia@atlcom.net
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