FAMILY: Accipitridae
STATUS: Endangered throughout its range, Federal Register, September 9, 1994
DESCRIPTION: The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk is a dark chocolate brown, small hawk that measures approximately 39 centimeters (15.5 inches). It is smaller than the Buteo platypterus platypterus but larger than the Lesser Antillean subspecies. This is the darkest subspecies of the broad-winged hawk. In adults, the tail, broadly banded with black and white, and the rufous breast are characteristic. Immature birds have dark bars on the breast and lack the distinctive tail bands of the adult. Broadwings flap more than the similar but larger red-tailed hawk (Raffaele 1989). Knowledge of the biology of the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk is limited. Snyder et al. (1987) conducted food-habit studies on one of the three nests found in the Caribbean National Forest in 1976 and one nest found in Río Abajo in 1978. The prey types taken included centipedes, frogs, lizards, mice, rats and birds (as large as 200 grams).

RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL: The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk is an uncommon and extremely local resident. Extant populations are restricted to montane habitats of three forests: Río Abajo Commonwealth Forest, Carite Commonwealth Forest, and Caribbean National Forest. Breeding has not been documented in the Carite forest (Hernández 1980, Snyder et al. 1987). In the mid 1980's, the population in the Caribbean National Forest was estimated to be 40 to 60 individuals and 15 to 20 breeding pairs (Santana and Temple 1984, Snyder et al. 1987). In 1992, twelve broad-winged hawks were sighted in the Caribbean National Forest, and the population was estimated at 22 individuals (Delannoy 1992). Little is known about the Río Abajo and Carite forest populations. Snyder et al. (1987) believed that the Río Abajo forest sustains not more than 50 individuals. Delannoy (1992) reported 26 broad-winged hawks, or an estimated population of 52 individuals, in the Río Abajo forest. The Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk was unknown from the Carite forest until 1980, when the existence of a resident population present year-round was reported (Hernández 1980). In 1992, twenty broad-winged hawks were censused in the Carite forest and a population of 22 individuals was estimated (Delannoy 1992).