A Broad-winged Hawk

We spotted this Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) as we drove past in the car. After we turned around for another look, we were lucky that it stayed put long enough for a quick photograph out the car window. It did cast a rather baleful look at us, however.

A Broad-winged Hawk in flight

Then the bird launched itself into the air and beat a retreat into a nearby forest. I was lucky enough to keep it in the viewfinder for this photograph. It clearly shows the  wide white band under the tail and the white underwings with a black border, two features which identify this bird as a Broad-winged Hawk. There are light and dark morphs of this species. This is the much more common light morph. The species name platypterus means “broad wing”.