Birds diurnal

Great Black Hawk

Buteogallus urubitinga

With its coal-black plumage and piercing yellow gaze, the Great Black Hawk is a master of the wetlands. Watch as this powerful raptor patrols the forest floor and garden edges with an elegance that few other birds of prey can match.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

Length: 56–64 cm (22–25 in); Wingspan: 120–130 cm (47–51 in); Weight: 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs)

palette

Colors

Adults are uniformly slate-black with a single broad white band across the tail. They have distinct yellow legs, a yellow cere, and dark eyes. Juveniles are dark brown above and buff-colored below with heavy dark streaking.

visibility

Key Features

Slate-black plumage with a single broad white tail band
Bright yellow legs and yellow cere
Broad, rounded wings and a relatively short tail
Juveniles are heavily streaked in brown and cream

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern diurnal

brightness_5

Peak hours 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

calendar_month

Season Year-round in tropical climates; most active and vocal during the spring nesting season.

restaurant

Diet An opportunistic generalist that hunts snakes, lizards, frogs, crabs, and large insects. They will also take small mammals and occasionally raid the nests of other birds.

park

Habitat Lowland forests, mangrove swamps, and wooded areas near rivers, marshes, or suburban ponds.

bar_chart
Loading activity data...

Behavior

The Great Black Hawk is a versatile and patient predator often seen perching on low branches or fence posts near water sources. Unlike many other hawks that hunt primarily from the air, this species is highly comfortable on the ground. It is frequently observed walking or even running through tall grass and mud to flush out prey, using its long legs to navigate uneven terrain with surprising agility.

Socially, these hawks are typically solitary or found in pairs. They are known for their loud, whistling calls, which they use to mark territory or communicate with mates. While naturally wary of humans, they can become quite bold in areas where they aren't persecuted, often patrolling the same backyard or garden edge daily if it offers a reliable supply of lizards or amphibians. During the breeding season, they perform impressive aerial displays, soaring in high circles and calling out to define their domain.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

To capture the Great Black Hawk on your trail camera, you need to think like a ground-hunter. Because these birds spend a significant amount of time searching for reptiles and amphibians near water, the best placement for your camera is 2 to 4 feet off the ground, overlooking a muddy bank, a garden pond, or a slow-moving stream. Angle the camera slightly downward to catch them as they walk along the water’s edge or perch on low-hanging logs to scout for prey.

If you have a large backyard, look for 'sentinel perches'—isolated trees or tall fence posts with a clear view of open grass. Placing a camera facing one of these spots can capture the hawk as it lands to scan the area. Since the Great Black Hawk is a large bird, ensure your camera is positioned at least 10–15 feet away from the target area to avoid 'clipping' its impressive wingspan when it takes off. High-speed trigger settings are vital, as their strikes on snakes or frogs happen in a fraction of a second.

In suburban settings, a shallow, ground-level water feature is an excellent lure. While they won't typically come to a bird feeder for seeds, they are drawn to the activity of other birds and the presence of water. Set your camera to take short video clips (15–30 seconds) rather than just stills; the way these hawks move on the ground—with a characteristic 'striding' gait—is one of their most fascinating behaviors to watch. Early morning light provides the best contrast for their dark feathers, so ensure your camera's exposure settings are balanced for the 'golden hour' to avoid losing the bird’s detail in deep shadows.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Great Black Hawk.

Common Black Hawk

Smaller with shorter legs and a single, very wide white tail band; more strictly tied to coastal mangroves.

Zone-tailed Hawk

Often mimics the flight of a Turkey Vulture; has multiple narrow grey/white bands on the tail instead of one broad band.

Snail Kite

Has a much more slender, hooked beak for eating snails and lacks the yellow legs and heavy build of the Great Black Hawk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great Black Hawks are diurnal and are most active during the daylight hours, with peak hunting activity occurring in the early morning and late afternoon when their prey is most mobile.

You can attract them by maintaining a natural habitat that supports their prey; a garden pond or a wetland area that hosts frogs, lizards, and snakes is the best way to draw them in.

They are generalist predators that primarily eat reptiles like snakes and lizards, as well as amphibians, large insects, crabs, and small rodents.

They are common in suburban areas that are located near their natural habitats, such as edges of forests, rivers, or coastal mangroves, where they can find both perches and ground-level prey.

The Great Black Hawk is larger with longer legs and usually shows a broader white band on the tail. In flight, the Great Black Hawk also shows more white at the base of the primary feathers compared to the Common Black Hawk.

Record Great Black Hawk at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo