A medium-sized raptor of 41 to 51 cm with uniformly slate-gray plumage and a black tail barred with white. The legs are long and slender, bright red-orange, adapted for reaching into cavities and crevices. The bill is black and hooked. The eyes are orange. Its flight is light and graceful with the legs hanging visibly. It inhabits gallery forest and riverside woodland near water. The long legs give it its name and serve to extract prey from crevices.
Behaviour
Solitary and relatively active during the day. It moves along the branches and trunks of the forest with its long legs, inserting them into the crevices, holes and cavities to extract crayfish, lizards, frogs and small snakes. It can also walk along the ground at the water's edge. The song is a high-pitched whistle.
How and when to see it
Year-round in the portals with gallery forest and riverbanks. Uncommon and requiring a trained eye. Portal Galarza and San Antonio are the best sites.
Where to see it in the Iberá
The gateways of the Great Iberá Park where crane hawk has confirmed presence:
Tours to see it
Verified providers operating at the gateways where crane hawk lives. You contact them directly on WhatsApp from the app.
- Esteros Ñe’é
Experiencias con relato local y mirada cultural sobre los esteros.★ 5.0 - Gaucho Argentino
Travesías a caballo por una red de refugios en el Iberá. Cabalgatas de varios días con…★ 5.0 - Jurassic Plant - Tour Nocturno
El único jardín de plantas carnívoras de Argentina y pionero en Latinoamérica. Tour…★ 5.0 - Irupé Excursiones
Senderismo guiado. Visita guiada a museos, lugares históricos, capillas y senderos del…★ 5.0
Species profile
- Common nameCrane Hawk
- Scientific nameGeranospiza caerulescens
- GroupBird
- StatusNative
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