Bird Guide

Grey-lined Hawk vs Zone-tailed Hawk

Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)

Grey-lined Hawk

Buteo nitidus

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The gray-lined hawk is 46–61 cm (18–24 in) in length and weighs 475 g (16.8 oz) average. The adult has a pale gray body, the tail is black with three white bands and the legs are orange. It has fine white barring on the upper parts. Immature birds have dark brown upperparts, a pale-banded brown tail, brown-spotted white underparts and a brown streaked buff head and neck. This species is quite short-winged, and has a fast agile flight for a Buteo.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Grey-lined Hawk
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Call · Fila De Mariches (near Parroquia La Dolorita), Sucre, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Joao Quental · CC BY 2.0
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

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The zone-tailed hawk is a fairly large but slender Buteo hawk. Grown birds are 46 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in) in length with a wingspan of about 117–140 cm (46–55 in). The zone-tailed is comparable in length and wingspan to common large Buteos found to the north such as Swainson's and red-tailed hawk, but may weigh considerably less. Their body mass can range from 565–1,080 g (1.246–2.381 lb). In measurements, the sexes are close in size, but the female, at an average of 900 g (2.0 lb), is much heavier and bulkier than the male, at an average of 637 g (1.404 lb).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey-lined Hawk and Zone-tailed Hawk.