El Residente
34 Wild Side by Ryan Piercy
Hawks
H
awks are special to many people, and it is no wonder considering that the relation between man and raptor dates back thousands of years. That relationship has been almost symbiotic, with hawks being used as hunters to gather sustenance, and later for sport, all over the globe. The conquistadors noted as early as 1500 that the Aztecs used trained hawks to hunt.
Costa Rica, unsurprisingly, has several species of hawks that one may observe, with luck and a keen eye. Though the hawks here are smaller than their cousins the eagles, they are just as captivating and form the broadest category of raptors. Apart from their usually smaller size, rarely exceeding eight pounds, they can be differentiated from eagles as having a dark curved beak, as opposed to the lighter hooked beak of the eagle. Their colors also differ, with hawks generally boasting beautiful gray to reddish brown plumage in addition to black and white feathers. With as many as 24 species of hawks to be found in Costa Rica, it is possible to pass near one species or another throughout most of the countryside. This high diversity means there will also be smaller pockets of individual species in various locations throughout the country.
Most hawks in Costa Rica are of the forest variety, or accipiters. From the tiny hawk at just 8-inches, to the largest variety, the great black hawk at 26-inches, they will usually watch for their prey from perches high in the forest. This tactic makes it more difficult for birders to locate them, versus species that soar high up while hunting. Being well camouflaged is just a part of their existence, thus using birding guides to identify them is usually a good idea.
