User talk:Quazgaa/Notebook

fOTS

 * Hector Acevedo
 * El Parterre


 * Edwin A. Zaragoza
 * Jorge Rigau >1993
 * Armando Morales Pares
 * Felix Julian del Campo
 * JERRY TORRES SANTIAGO - ICPR
 * Hector Santiago
 * Juan Llanes Santos
 * Santiago Gala
 * Karen Gonzalez Jensen
 * Arleen Pabon PhD
 * Berenice R. Sueiro

Taxonomy
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Description
The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small forest hawk measuring approximately 11 to 13 inches. It has a dark blue/slate gray upper area with reddish-orange stripes on its breast. Immature birds have a brownish hue above and are striped below. It has broad wings and a proportionally long, squared-off tail, enabling it to turn and maneuver rapidly when chasing small birds through the forest canopy. The subspecies shows characteristics of sexual dimorphism, with the female almost 50% larger than the male. This allows each sex to focus their predatory efforts on different sized prey.

Behavior
The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk feeds primarily on small birds ranging in size from Tanagers to hummingbirds. It requires a home range of approximately 370 acres (150 hectares). Females lay two (2) to three (3) white eggs in March or April and incubate them while the male searches for food. Average incubation period is approximately 32 days. Fledglings leave the nest 30 days after hatching.

Distribution
Restricted to five isolated mountain forest areas within the subtropical lower mountain wet forests and subtropical wet forest life zones of the main island of Puerto Rico, the subspecies has suffered a 40 % decline in population since 1992. As of 1997, it's estimated population is approximatelly 150. Human causes in population decline are from deforestation due to road construction, power lines, and communications facilities installations which have significantly reduced its habitat area. Natural disasters such as Hurricanes also contribute significantly to population declines. Nest failures due to fledgling infestation with botfly larvae, Warble fly larvea, and nest predation by the Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus) have also contributed to its population reduction. Although an overall population of 129 birds has been reported on the island (Delannoy, 1992), in El Yunque National Forest, the only two sharp-shinned hawks sighted at that time where a solitary territorial pair that were sighted in the south-central part of the forest.

Nesting
The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawks select plantation and natural forest nest sites with similar vegetative structure and mountainous topography. Closed canopies and dense vegetation are sought by the hawks in the selection of nesting sites. They place their platform nests below the canopy on horizontal branches usually against the trunk or in crotches away from the trunk. Contruction of nesting platforms usually begin in January after a breeding pair remain at their nesting sites permanently. Both males and females become more active in the nest building process one month before eggs are laid. Egg laying usually ocuurs during March and April and a second clutch may be laid rarely from May to July. Second clutches are only laid in the event the first brood of eggs is lost. Typical incubation periods last for one month. Nesting period ends once the juveniles fly short distances from the nest and roost in trees 10 to 15 meters from the nest. More than half of fledging failures are caused by Warble fly larvae.

Courtship and Foraging
Most activity during early occupancy of nesting sites consisted of courtship displays and territorial flights. Both the males and females partake in courtship displays which typically last from sunrise until mid-morning. In February, females stop foraging and remain near the nesting site. Only the female provides incubation and the role of the male is to provide all food to the female.

Diet
The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk's diet consists predominantly of Small birds the size of Tanagers (30 grams or smaller). Due to the Larger size of the female, it is possible that some thrashers (100 grams) are taken with some regularity.