The breeding range of the groups are entirely allopatric, although the wintering range of the nominate group partially overlaps with the range of chionogaster. This allopatry combined with differences in plumage and, apparently, certain measurements, has been the background for the split, but hard scientific data are presently lacking. Disregarding field guides, most material published in recent years has therefore considered all to be members of a single widespread species – but not without equivocation: Ferguson-Lees et al. say that if they were to make a world list, they would include the three taxa as separate species, and the AOU's comment includes the note "split almost certainly good". In Bolivia, ventralis and erythronemiusapproach each other, but no evidence of intergradation is known – something that, without actual specimens, also would be hard to prove due to the variability in the plumage of ventralis.
Description
This is a small Accipiter hawk, with males long, with a wingspan of and weight from. As common in Accipiter hawks, females are distinctly larger in size, averaging some 30% longer, and with a weight advantage of more than 50% being common. The female measures in length, has a wingspan of and weighs. The wings measure each, the tail is long and the tarsus is. Measurements given here are for sharp-shinned hawk, but they are comparable for the remaining species. Adults have short broad wings and a medium-length tail banded in blackish and gray with the tip varying among individuals from slightly notched through square to slightly rounded. The remiges are whitish barred blackish. The legs are long and very slender and yellow. The hooked bill is black and the cere is yellowish. Birds can be Polymorphic. The most common morph has dark grey upperparts and white underparts variably barred, shaded, or mottled with rufous or tawny-buff. Occasionally, the barring to the lower belly and flanks may appear duskier. The white morph has bluish-grey upperparts, but its underparts are all white except for its rufous thighs. The rare dark morph, the only morph which sometimes lacks rufous thighs, is entirely sooty. The underparts of the females average paler than males of the same morph. The iris is typically yellow, but individuals with a darker iris are occasionally seen. Juveniles have dark brownish or dusky upperparts with each feather typically edged rufous, giving a rather scaly appearance. The underparts are white streaked brown, and the thighs are rufous barred white. Occasionally, juveniles with underparts extensively rufous streaked blackish are seen.
Distribution
It occurs in the coastal mountains of northern Venezuela and Colombia, south through the Andes from western Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, to central Bolivia. A disjunct population occurs in the Tepuis of southern Venezuela. It is, as far as known, resident, but some local movements may occur.
Habitat
The plain-breasted hawk is found in upper tropical to temperate highlands; mainly at altitudes of, but occasionally down to near sea-level and up to.
Diet
These birds surprise and capture most of their prey from cover or while flying quickly through dense vegetation. They are adept at navigating dense thickets, although this hunting method is often hazardous to the hawk. The great majority of this hawk's prey are small birds, especially various songbirds such as sparrows, wood-warblers, finches, wrens, nuthatches, tits, icterids and thrushes. Typically, males will target smaller birds, such as sparrows and wood-warblers, and females will pursue larger prey, such as thrushes and flickers, leading to a lack of conflict between the sexes for prey. These hawks often exploit backyard bird feeders in order to target congregations of ideal prey. They often pluck the feathers off their prey on a post or other perch. Rarely, sharp-shinned hawks will also eat rodents, lizards, frogs, snakes, and large insects.
Reproduction
Sharp-shinned hawks construct a stick nest. Clutches of 3 to 8 eggs have been recorded, but 4 to 5 eggs is the typical clutch size. The eggs measure and weigh about. The incubation period is thought to average at about 30 days. After hatching, the young are brooded for 16 to 23 days by the female, while the male defends the territory and catches prey. The young fledge at the age of about a month and rely on their parents for feeding and protection another four weeks. The breeding behavior of the plain-breasted hawk is comparably poorly known, but based on the available knowledge they appear to differ little from that of the sharp-shinned hawk.
Conservation
The plain-breasted hawk is fairly common and presently considered safe.
