{"id":238666,"date":"2026-01-22T12:43:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T17:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/?post_type=fauna&#038;p=238666"},"modified":"2026-03-27T09:03:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:03:12","slug":"black-collared-hawk","status":"publish","type":"fauna","link":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/faune-2\/black-collared-hawk\/","title":{"rendered":"Black-collared Hawk"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Busarellus nigricollis<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":247077,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":""},"collection":[],"country":[59,11],"fauna-group":[27482],"fauna-type":[27217],"class_list":["post-238666","fauna","type-fauna","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","country-brazil","country-colombia","fauna-group-hawks","fauna-type-birds"],"acf":{"scientific_name":"Busarellus nigricollis","animal_description":"The Black-collared Hawk (*Busarellus nigricollis*) is a striking raptor of the Neotropical wetlands, easily identified by its vibrant chestnut-orange plumage, creamy-white head, and the distinct black crescent-shaped \"collar\" across its upper breast. Perfectly adapted for a life near the water, this hawk is a specialized fisherman; it possesses unique, sand-paper-like spicules on the soles of its feet\u2014similar to those of an Osprey\u2014which provide a non-slip grip on its slimy, aquatic prey. With unusually broad wings and a short, squared tail, it excels at low-altitude maneuvers over marshes and mangroves, where it can be seen perched prominently before plunging its talons into the water to snatch a meal, making it both a visual standout and a master of its watery domain.","animal_habitat":"This species is primarily found in lowland wetland environments, favoring areas with slow-moving or stagnant water. Its typical habitats include freshwater marshes, swamps, wet savannas, mangrove edges, and the margins of large rivers and lagoons. It requires open landscapes with scattered trees or bushes that provide suitable perching sites for hunting and nesting near the water's surface.\r\n\r\nGeographically, its range spans the Neotropics, extending from central Mexico southward through Central America. In South America, it is widely distributed east of the Andes, reaching as far south as northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. While widespread across these regions, it remains closely tied to permanent water sources throughout its extensive territory.","animal_behavior_and_reproduction":"This raptor is primarily solitary or observed in monogamous pairs, spending much of its time perched on low branches overhanging water to hunt fish. Its specialized feet, equipped with small spines called spicules, allow it to securely grasp slippery prey, a behavior often followed by returning to a favored perch to consume the catch. During the breeding season, pairs engage in aerial displays and vocalizations to maintain their bond and defend their territory against intruders.\r\n\r\nReproduction typically involves constructing a bulky stick nest lined with green leaves, situated high in a tree or mangrove overlooking a swamp or marsh. The female usually lays a single egg, though clutches of two are possible, which are incubated by both parents. The timing of their reproductive cycle is often synchronized with local seasonal flooding, ensuring that high concentrations of fish are available to sustain the offspring during their most demanding growth phases.","diet":"The Black-collared Hawk is a specialized piscivore that primarily feeds on small to medium-sized fish found near the surface of freshwater marshes, swamps, and mangroves. While its diet is heavily dominated by fish, it occasionally supplements its intake with aquatic insects, snails, frogs, and small lizards. One of the most fascinating aspects of its hunting biology is the presence of specialized, rough scales called spicules on the undersides of its toes, an evolutionary adaptation similar to that of the Osprey which allows it to maintain a firm grip on slippery, wriggling prey. This raptor typically employs a \"sit-and-wait\" hunting strategy, scanning the water from a low-hanging branch before executing a swift, shallow dive to snatch its meal with its talons without ever fully submerging its body.","colors":"The Black-collared Hawk is characterized by a vibrant cinnamon-rufous body and a pale, whitish head marked by a prominent black crescent-shaped \"collar\" on the lower throat. Its flight feathers and tail are primarily black, with the latter featuring thin reddish bands, while fine dark streaks often pattern its crown. This bold, high-contrast plumage makes it easily identifiable against the open, marshy landscapes where it hunts.","fun_facts":"This specialized fisherman features sandpaper-like spikes on the soles of its feet called spicules, a rare adaptation shared with Ospreys that provides a non-slip grip on slimy, wriggling fish. Unlike many raptors with strongly curved talons, this hawk possesses unusually long, straight claws that act like gaff hooks to snatch prey directly from the water's surface. It is also known for its patient hunting style, often perching on low branches just inches above the water and occasionally using its broad wings to shade the surface, a behavior that reduces glare and allows it to peer deeper into the murky wetlands for its next meal.","conservation_status_&_efforts":"The species is currently categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range across the Neotropics and a large, generally stable population. However, it faces ongoing threats from the loss and degradation of wetland habitats, which are vital for its survival. Key pressures include the drainage of marshes for cattle ranching and agriculture, the clearing of mangroves for coastal development, and the contamination of waterways with pesticides and heavy metals that can bioaccumulate in its primary food source of fish.\r\n\r\nConservation measures are largely centered on the protection of its habitat within established national parks and biological reserves, such as those in the Pantanal and the Amazon basin. While no species-specific global action plans are currently in place, the hawk is protected under various national wildlife laws across its range. Maintaining the integrity of freshwater ecosystems and monitoring water quality are essential strategies for mitigating the long-term impacts of human encroachment and ensuring the stability of its nesting and foraging sites.","endemic":false,"conservation_status":"Least Concern","ebird_link":{"title":"View on Ebird","url":"https:\/\/ebird.org\/species\/blchaw1","target":"_blank"},"animal_related_page":{"title":"View on Animalia","url":"https:\/\/animalia.bio\/black-collared-hawk","target":"_blank"},"fauna_family":"Accipitridae","fauna_known_nicknames":"Black-collared Hawk, Fishing Hawk, Gavi\u00e3o-belo, Gavil\u00e1n colorado","fauna_average_length":"45\u201351 cm \/ 18\u201320 in","fauna_average_weight":"390\u2013825 g \/ 13.8\u201329.1 oz","fauna_wingspan":"115\u2013143 cm \/ 45\u201356 in","fauna_key_physical_feature":"Bright rufous-cinnamon plumage with a prominent black crescent-shaped collar on the upper breast and a whitish head","fauna_primary_diet":"Piscivore (primarily fish, supplemented by aquatic insects and snails)","fauna_geographical_range":"Central and South America, from central Mexico south to northern Argentina and Uruguay","fauna_preferred_habitat":"Lowland freshwater wetlands, marshes, swamps, and mangrove edges","fauna_social_structure":"Solitary or in monogamous pairs","fauna_breeding_site":"Bulky stick nests constructed in trees or mangroves, typically over or near water","fauna_conservation_status":"Least Concern (LC)","fauna_population_trend":"Decreasing","fauna_spanish_name":"Gavil\u00e1n colorado","fauna_french_name":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fauna\/238666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fauna"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fauna"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=238666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=238666"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=238666"},{"taxonomy":"fauna-group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fauna-group?post=238666"},{"taxonomy":"fauna-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/remote-expeditions.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fauna-type?post=238666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}