Black-collared Hawk Gallery

Busarellus nigricollis

The Birds of the World website introduces the Black-collared Hawk with this descriptive information:  The Black-collared Hawk is a denizen of most fresh or brackish water habitats in tropical and subtropical Central and South America, occurring from central Mexico south to Uruguay. Typically Black-collared Hawks perch above shallow pools or marshes and drop onto prey, which most often are fish; as in the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the undersides of the toes of this hawk have spines to aid in grabbing fish. Other prey includes lizards or rodents. Named for its black bib, the Black-collared Hawk most easily is identified by its rufous plumage and very short tail. This species can be quite common in appropriate habitat but is patchily distributed and local over much of Amazonia.

I met my first Black-collared Hawk on the morning of Tuesday, August 23, 2023.  Our Jeff Parker Tour group was staying at Southwild’s Santa Tereza Lodge and I watched this bird from a boat on the Rio Sararé which is near the lodge.  I saw a number of these Hawks perched on trees along the river then swooping down for fish in the water.  Quite the sight!  For details of my Brazilian trip that include the sighting of this bird, look here.  Below are a few of my photos of this striking raptor.