Variable hawk

Variable hawk
Female in the Falkland Islands
Adult in flight while circling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Geranoaetus
Species:
G. polyosoma
Binomial name
Geranoaetus polyosoma
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Subspecies[2]
  • G. p. polyosoma - (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
  • G. p. exsul - (Salvin, 1875)
  • G. p. poecilochrous - (Gurney Sr, 1879)
  • G. p. fjeldsai - (Cabot, J & de Vries, 2009)
Synonyms

Buteo poecilochrous Gurney, 1879
Buteo polyosoma

The variable hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) is a polymorphic species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

It is widespread and often common in open habitats in western and southern South America, including the Falkland Islands. Its taxonomy is disputed, with some splitting it into the widespread red-backed hawk (G. polyosoma) and the Puna hawk or Gurney's hawk (G. poecilochrous) of the central and north Andean highlands, but the differences between the two are unclear. Most recent authorities have supported the lumping together of the two hawks although the issue still is controversial.[3][4] On the contrary, the rare taxon from the Juan Fernández Islands is relatively distinctive, and possibly worthy of species recognition as the Juan Fernández hawk (B. exsul).[5] In this article and most current accounts, the three races are regarded as subspecies.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Geranoaetus polyosoma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22735520A95113871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22735520A95113871.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
  3. ^ South American Classification Committee (2007). Merge Buteo poecilochrous into B. polyosoma.. Accessed 10-07-2009
  4. ^ South American Classification Committee (2009). Re-split Buteo poecilochrous from B. polyosoma.. Accessed 10-07-2009
  5. ^ Jaramillo, A. Burke, P., & Beadle, D. (2003). Birds of Chile. Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-4688-8