SHORT-TAILED HAWK

 A sharp raptor of the subtropical forests, the Short-tailed Hawk is often seen as a speck soaring in the sky, looking for prey. They occur in dark morphs (commonly found in Florida) with brown to black and white wings and tail; or as the light develops and the upper part is brown and the lower part is white. These rare falcons hunt birds in the air, leaning on them in the water suddenly and taking them directly from their peches. Short guns are specialized for hunting birds. They can catch species as small as the Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and as large as the Northern Bobwhite, and at high tide. The short gun is the buteo, a type of gun known for its broad wings and short tail. In this group, the name is a misnomer, as many other Buteo species have short tails. The isolated Florida Short-tailed Hawk population migrates south to winter in the South Peninsula and Florida Keys. The Florida Keys Hawkwatch at Curry Hammock State Park is a great place to see the species, seeing up to 60 in t...