gavião-de-cara-preta vs gavião-de-cauda-curta

The Black-faced Hawk and Short-tailed Hawk can be distinguished by their plumage and behavior. The Black-faced Hawk has a distinctive black face, while the Short-tailed Hawk is known for its soaring behavior and can be seen in both light and dark morphs. Observing their behavior and plumage in flight can help differentiate these species.

Look for the black face on the Black-faced Hawk. Observe soaring behavior and check for light or dark morphs in the Short-tailed Hawk. Note the wing posture and soaring height to differentiate from vultures.

The Black-faced Hawk has a distinctive black face, which is a key identifier. The Short-tailed Hawk comes in two morphs: light and dark. The light morph has a white underside with dark wingtips, while the dark morph is mostly dark brown. These differences are most visible when the birds are in flight.

The Short-tailed Hawk is known for soaring at great heights with flat wings and slightly upturned wingtips, often resembling a vulture. It hunts by hanging motionless in the wind and diving steeply at prey. The Black-faced Hawk's behavior is less documented in this context.