Zone-tailed Hawk

The Zone-tailed Hawk is a fascinating example of apparent mimicry among raptors, closely resembling the Turkey Vulture in both overall dark coloring and flight style, including holding its wings in a shallow V and rocking or teetering in flight. This resemblance is thought to help it approach prey without alarming them, since many animals do not perceive vultures as an immediate threat.

Found from the southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and into South America, it favors canyon country, riparian corridors, and open woodland.

The clearest feather-based distinction from the similarly dark Turkey Vulture is the presence of light gray bands on the tail feathers, a pattern the vulture lacks entirely.

Shape and Size

Wings are broad, and the tail is of moderate length, generally more compact than the very large flight feathers of a Turkey Vulture despite superficially similar overall dark coloring.

Color and Pattern

• Body and covert feathers: blackish to dark sooty-gray
• Flight feathers: blackish, unlike the pale-based flight feathers of the Turkey Vulture
• Tail feathers: blackish with two or three light gray bands, a key identifying feature
• Shafts: dark

Distinguishing from Similar Species

While overall dark coloring closely resembles the Turkey Vulture, this species' tail feathers show distinct pale gray bands, which the vulture's plain dark tail lacks; additionally, this hawk's flight feathers are more uniformly dark rather than showing the vulture's pale silvery underside.

Adults are blackish overall with two to three pale gray tail bands; sexes look alike. Juveniles show more numerous, narrower, and less distinct tail bands along with some fine white speckling on the underparts, becoming bolder-banded as adults.

Molt occurs on a roughly annual schedule tied to the breeding season.

Found in canyon country, riparian woodland along rivers, and adjacent open terrain from the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) through Mexico, Central America, and into parts of South America.

Northern populations are migratory, moving south for winter, while more southern populations tend to be resident.

Hunts by soaring low over canyons and woodland edges in a vulture-like manner, using the resemblance to Turkey Vultures to approach small mammals, birds, and reptiles before stooping suddenly to catch them.

Nests in tall trees along canyons or rivers. Calls include a thin, descending whistle.

A blackish feather with light gray tail banding, found in canyon or riparian habitat of the southwestern Americas, indicates this species rather than the superficially similar Turkey Vulture.