Gray Hawk

The Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) or Mexican goshawk is a smallish raptor found in open country and forest edges. It's occasionally classified as Asturina plagiata in the Asturina genus. The American Ornithological Society (AOU) separated the species from the gray-lined hawk. It is found from Costa Rica north into the southwestern United States.

The typical weight of a gray hawk is 475 g and its length ranges from 46 to 61 cm. The adult's body is a light gray color, its tail has three white bands running through it, and its legs are orange. Its upper portions are a uniform, plain gray. Birds that are still developing have dark brown upperparts, a pale-banded brown tail, brown-spotted white underparts, and a buff head and neck with brown streaking. This species is quite short-winged and has a fast agile flight for a Buteo. The call is a shrill whistled kleee-ooo.