The great black hawk is larger than a Harris'
hawk (one male was trained at 32oz.), with extremely long legs.
Found in Central America, and very similar to the Mangrove and
Common Black Hawks (all are Buteogallus). Although it has
short tows, they are exceptionally strong. One great black hawk (an
old zoo bird), without any talons, was able to kill a guinea hen
located outside of its chain link enclosure just by the force of
its squeezing. A tropical bird, its cold tolerance is equivalent to
a Harris' hawk, but unlike a Harris' hawk, they can be flown in
100F and above heat. They love heat--black not only absorbs heat,
but also radiates heat efficiently. We are unaware of anyone
attempting to fly these in North American falconry. If you, or
anyone you know, has flown one of these, please email Dave.
One distinctive quality of the great black hawk
is that it takes 5 years for it to molt into completely black
plumage. Until this time, it is a mixture of black and honey
colorations. Even as a chick, it has the black/honey colorations on
its down! Every year, they will molt in more and more black
feathers.
Video of the great black hawk is
available. Please go to the video page to
view it.
Pictures:
Click on an image below to view it full size.
Adult Great Black Hawk on the ground
Great Black in its chain link breeding chamber
Immature Great Black Hawk
Side view of Immature Great Black Hawk
Immature Great Black Hawk scraping its beak
Both adult Great Black Hawks in chamber
Side of adult Great Black Hawk in chamber
Not so happy Great Black Hawk (was a little to close to it when
I took the picture :)