Broad-winged hawk

The broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) is a medium-sized hawk of the genus Buteo. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas. They then migrate south to winter in the Neotropics from Mexico south to southern Brazil. The two types of coloration are a dark morph with fewer white areas and a light morph that is more pale overall. Although the broad- winged hawk's numbers are relatively stable, populations are declining in some parts of its breeding range because of forest fragmentation. They soar using thermals to carry them through their journey of 3,000,000 km (1,900,700 mi) Fall migration lasts about 70 days as birds migrate about 100 km (62 mi) per day from North America to South America, without crossing salt water. They are usually confused with the red-shouldered hawk, which has a longer, more heavily barred tail and wings with a solid rufous color in the adult. Rare dark morphs are a darker brown on both upperparts and underparts.