CUBAN FALCONIFORMES - Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys

The birds in this order are the birds of prey. They are medium to large-sized and have strong talons; strong, curved beaks; and excellent eyesight.

They are very good flyers and often glide overhead riding on warm air or thermals. Most species make their nests in trees and mate with the same partner year-after-year. They usually live in male/female pairs.

They are found in all parts of the world except Antarctica, and live in all habitat types including the desert, tundra, taiga,wetlands, and rainforests.

There are 11 species in this order found in Cuba. Species include the crested caracara, the broad-winged hawk, the snail kite, and the osprey. Three species, the Cuban kite, the Cuban black hawk, and Gundlach's hawk are endemic to Cuba.

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CUBAN FALCONIFORMES - Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys

Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced Breeds in NH (Birds)
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

Species	Sounds	Occurrence
Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Roger Ahlman
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus		Non-breeding
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Marco Dragonetti
Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Paul Driver
Gundlach's Hawk - Accipiter gundlachi		Endemic
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Tim Burr
Cuban Black Hawk - Buteogallus gundlachii		Endemic
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Laura Gooch
Broad-winged Hawk - Buteo platypterus		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Allen Creek
Red-tailed Hawk -Buteo jamaicensis		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Andrew Spencer
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Don Jones
Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Andrew Spencer
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Israel Aragon
Merlin - Falco columbarius		Non-breeding
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Stein Ø. Nilsen
Peregrine Falcon-Falco peregrinus		Non-breeding
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Lars Lachmann
Cuban Kite - Chondrohierax wilsonii	No Audio Available	Endemic

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis
The snail kite is found in Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus
The northern harrier is found throughout the Canada and the U.S. south into Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus
The northern harrier nests on the ground.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
The female sharp-shinned hawk is twice as large as the male.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
At 9.5-12 inches in length, the sharp-shinned hawk is the smallest hawk found in the U.S. and Canada.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Gundlach's Hawk - Accipiter gundlachi
Gundlach's hawk was once found across much of Cuba. It is now found in five isolated locations scattered across the island.
Source:BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuban Black Hawk - Buteogallus gundlachii
The Cuban black hawk is found in coastal areas of Cuba.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuban Black Hawk - Buteogallus gundlachii
The Cuban black hawk is found in mangrove swamps and on the banks of large rivers.
Source:BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Broad-winged Hawk - Buteo platypterus
The broad-winged hawk migrates in flocks that can number in the thousands.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
The red-tailed hawk is found throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Source: San Diego Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
The red-tailed hawk can spot a mouse from 100 feet up in the air.
Source: National Geographic Creature Feature Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
The red-tailed hawk is one of the most common hawks in North America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
During breeding season, red-tailed hawks are very territorial and aggressive.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
The osprey is also known as the fish hawk.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
The osprey is found on all continents except Antarctica.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
The American kestrel is the smallest North American falcon.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
The American kestrel breeds throughout North and South America from near the tree line in Alaska and Canada south to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Merlin - Falco columbarius
The merlin is found from Canada south to Argentina. It is also found in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Merlin - Falco columbarius
Merlins prefer open country like grasslands, dunes, sea shores, and deserts.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Merlin - Falco columbarius
Female merlins are larger than males.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Peregrine Falcon-Falco peregrinus
Peregrine falcons are found in most regions of the world, except Antarctica. In North America, the peregrine falcon breeds from Alaska and the Canadian arctic south though the western United State into Mexico and from New England to Virginia on the East Coast. It winters along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Peregrine Falcon-Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon is found in habitats with open areas and cliffs for nesting. It is frequently found on mountains, coasts, and rivers with cliffs. 
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Peregrine Falcon-Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon hunts in the air or from a perch. It hunts for birds and either dives on its prey from above or chases it from behind. 
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Cuban Kite - Chondrohierax wilsonii
The Cuban kite is only found in Cuba.
Source:BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School