Nature Field Guide
White Hawk
- Spanish name
- Gavilán blanco
- Scientific name
- Pseudastur albicollis
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico: “A white shape is circling above the forest!”
Tati: “Let’s compare its wings and tail before naming it.”
Species overview
About the White Hawk
The White Hawk inhabits wet forest and wooded foothills. Its plumage varies geographically, combining white with different amounts of black on the wings and tail. A bird soaring above a clearing can be easier to notice than one perched inside the canopy.
This raptor hunts mainly reptiles, including snakes and lizards, but also takes other small animals. It often waits on a perch before moving quickly to capture prey. White Hawks build a leafy-lined stick nest high in a tree. Their place in the food web links them to forest structure and prey populations, making intact habitat important even where the species remains widespread.
Identification
Key Features of the White Hawk
Mostly white plumage, with black wing and tail markings.
Broad wings while soaring.
Patient perching near forest gaps.
Habitat & range
Forested foothills and uneven terrain on the Caribbean side and southern Pacific, locally to about 1400 m. Dry northwestern lowlands are unsuitable.
Local observations
SINAC lists White Hawk at Alberto Manuel Brenes. San Ramón is the regional gateway; the reserve is not open to the public, so arrange observation only at authorized nearby sites.
When to observe
Plan a quiet observation with a local guide. Weather, food availability and the chosen habitat affect what you may see; a location record does not guarantee a sighting.
Conservation & care
Stay on authorized trails or viewing routes. Give birds space, keep voices low and leave nests undisturbed. Observe without bait, feeding or recorded calls.
Threats & pressures
The Peregrine Fund reports declines where forest is cleared for agriculture and livestock.
Observation activity
Record three features you actually observe: shape, movement and habitat. Draw the bird from a respectful distance and compare your notes with a field guide.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Highlands · Northern Plains · South Pacific · Alajuela · San Ramón