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White Hawk


White Hawk
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris Chafer (sandpiper2) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1841 W: 109 N: 4244] (14071)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Pentax K100D Super, Sigma 70-300 DG Macro, Digital ISO-400, Matin 58mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/1500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-26 3:25
Viewed: 491
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
While briefly exploring the Cockscomb Basin Nature Reserve, we were lucky enough to have a beautiful White Hawk (Leucopternis albicollis) circle right over our heads for a few moments, and then it was gone.

This is a raptor of tropical lowland forest and other woodlands. It ranges from southern Mexico through Central and South America to Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. It also breeds on Trinidad. The White Hawk's range in central South America is the entire Amazon Basin, from the Andes on the west to the Guianas on the Atlantic on the northeast, and to the transition lands to the south. A widespread species, it is usually not common, but the IUCN considers it not to be globally threatened due to the large extent of its range.

The White Hawk feeds mainly on reptiles with some insects and mammals, caught in a sortie from a perch. It associates with foraging groups of Tufted Capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and South American Coatis (Nasua nasua) to snatch prey startled by these animals. This species is often seen soaring, and has a spectacular aerial courtship display.

It builds a large stick platform nest in a tree and usually lays one dark-blotched blue-white egg. An attended nest was observed in Ecuador in mid-August. The adult White Hawk ranges from 46-56 cm long with very broad wings and has a white head, body and underwings. The upper wings are black, and the very short tail is black with a broad white band. The bill is black and the legs are yellow.

The sexes are similar, but females are larger and heavier (840 g compared to the male's 650 g). Immature birds have extensive black spotting on the upperparts and dark-streaked whitish underparts. The call of the White Hawk is a plaintive kerwee.
KOMSIS, Merlin, boreocypriensis, maurydv, albert has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Chris,
Blue sky and clear wings, white hawk...
Cross-docking, color and detail very good.
Very beautiful light reflected in the wings.
best wishes,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1971 W: 6 N: 5513] (19621)
  • [2009-08-26 3:43]

Hi Chris....simply fantastic! The transparence of the wings in backlight are a impressive spectacle.And what a perfect sharpness in this blue sky!My best compliments,a very professional work,have a nice day..or good night..ehehe...Luciano

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1566] (6115)
  • [2009-08-26 3:44]

Hello Chris
Wonderful composition and colors...well done
Regards
Razvan

Hi Chris,

Spectacular, beautiful light, perfect composition. Excellent sky!

TFS!

Jesús

Hi, Chris
A fine and rare photograph of this beautiful hawk in soaring flight. I might have adjusted the levels a little to brighten the image, but there is great detail in this backlit image. Belize is an amazing place - I envy you this visit ;)
Best wishes, Nigel.

Hello Chris!

Magnificent bird very well captured. Great sharpness and colors. Very well done!

Regards
Jacek

Hi mate Chris,

What a superb POV that you captured this hawk. Excellent details and sharpness. Wonderful colours.
TFS and have a nice day!
Cheers,

Bayram

Ciao Chris. Indeed an exctiting POV with nice trasparence's light trough the wing and excellente sharp. Really an interesting work.

Roberto

Hello Chris,
a fantastic picture of the White Hawk in-fligh, very good sharpness and good contrast of the bird against this blue sky.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hello Chris
Very nice photo with good contrast on a blue sky
Well done
Albert

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