Slate-colored Hawk

The Slate-colored Hawk occurs in the humid lowland forests of eastern Ecuador, where it inhabits várzea and riparian zones near rivers, swamps, and seasonally flooded woodlands. Though generally uncommon and elusive, it is regularly observed in suitable habitat, often hunting along water edges for frogs, snakes, crabs, and small mammals. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad Amazonian range and no immediate threats, though it remains sensitive to deforestation and wetland degradation. Natural history observations highlight its solitary behavior, silent flight, and preference for dense vegetation, with nesting likely occurring in concealed forest sites, though details remain poorly documented.