The White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) is a robust, medium-sized bird of prey native to the tropical and subtropical environments of the Americas. This raptor is known for its distinctive plumage, featuring a white tail with a narrow black terminal band in adulthood and rusty shoulder patches. Its expansive distribution stretches across two continents, defining its habitat requirements.
Geographic Distribution
The species’ range spans an immense distance, extending from the southern United States through Central America and down into the lower reaches of South America. The northern limit lies along the coastal areas of Texas, particularly the Rio Grande Valley region, continuing south through Mexico and Central America. The distribution reaches its southern extreme in central Argentina, making it one of the most widely distributed raptors in the Western Hemisphere. The species also occupies locations in the Caribbean, including the Lesser Antilles and Trinidad and Tobago.
The hawk is generally considered a resident species throughout its range, meaning it does not undertake the long-distance annual migrations characteristic of many other raptors. While non-migratory, some local populations may engage in regional movements when food resources become scarce. This short-distance dispersal allows the hawk to remain in areas with consistent prey availability.
Preferred Ecosystems and Habitat
The White-tailed Hawk prefers open or semi-open landscapes across its broad geographic range. It primarily occupies grasslands, savannas, coastal prairies, and scrublands, often favoring arid habitats. These open environments provide the necessary visibility for its characteristic hunting style, which involves hovering high in the air while searching for prey below. The species avoids dense forest cover or regions with heavy rainfall, preferring environments where flight is unobstructed.
In Texas, the hawk is found mostly on the coastal prairie and inland ranch country, utilizing scattered shrubs and low trees. It is seldom found in intensively farmed agricultural fields or heavily grazed pastures, suggesting a sensitivity to habitat quality.
Within these open habitats, the hawk requires structures for perches and nesting sites. It uses natural structures like scattered trees, shrubs, or tall cacti, as well as artificial ones such as utility poles and fence posts. Nests are often placed in low trees or shrubs, though they can be found up to forty feet high. The species is typically found at lower elevations, rarely occurring above 600 meters (2,000 feet) above sea level.
Regional Subspecies Ranges
Three recognized subspecies further define the White-tailed Hawk’s location, each occupying a distinct geographic segment of the overall range. These variations exhibit slight differences in size and plumage color.
The northernmost subspecies is Geranoaetus albicaudatus hypospodius, which is intermediate in size and coloration. Its range extends from the coastal areas of Texas and the Rio Grande Valley southward through Middle America, continuing to northern Colombia and western Venezuela. This subspecies defines the Mesoamerican segment of the territory and does not overlap with the others.
Moving eastward and into the Caribbean, Geranoaetus albicaudatus colonus is found, characterized by being smaller and paler. This variation occupies a territory stretching from eastern Colombia to Suriname, south to the mouth of the Amazon River, and throughout the Caribbean islands.
The southernmost portion of the range is inhabited by Geranoaetus albicaudatus albicaudatus, the largest and darkest of the three variations. This subspecies is distributed across the southern Amazon rainforest, extending south through Brazil to central Argentina.