Buteo polyosoma

The tricolor Tube or Buteo polyosoma or Aguilucho is a South American species of the kind Buteo or Buse . One meets it with the Chile and in Argentine.

Description

The aguilucho male measurement 44 to 48 cm. and the larger female makes of them 50 to 52. In the adults, the plumage is rosy on the shoulders, gray on the back, and white on the belly. Its most projecting characteristic is a black tuft at the end of the tail. The young specimens keep during two years a striped plumage. The legs are yellow.

Habitat and behavior

This raptor lives the matorrals, wood, waves land and the raised plains. It is an almost extraordinary hunter. It nourishes small mammals, never larger than hare, but also of various doves, partridges and birds. Its mode comprises also reptiles, Amphibians and invertebrates. Its method of hunting consists in flying in a circular way to the top of the prey, then to launch out abruptly on it of diagonal, striking its heavy legs the shoulder of the victim. The two parents build together their nest on high trees, if possible thorny. The nest is of big size (almost a meter of diameter) and is made brushwood. The male nourishes the female during incubation, and after the birth of chicks, it is it which will take care of the latter.

Geographical distribution

In Argentina: it is widespread in all the country, where there are mountainous grounds, in particular in Patagonie and in cañons north of the country.

Current ecological situation

From the ecological point of view, the mountainous grounds that he attends are the least modifiable by the human action. This gives a good balance to the species and its future seems assured.

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