Nesting Records and Habitat of the Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) in Natural Protected Area Maderas del Carmen, Coahuila, México

Abstract

Abstract. The Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), a widespread neotropical raptor, has been known since the 1970s to nest as far north as western Texas, but few breeding records exist for the adjacent area of northcentral Mexico. In 2015 we located two active nest sites within the Maderas del Carmen Flora and Fauna Protection Area at northwestern Coahuila. The nest sites were in Pecan (Carya illinoiensis) and Arizona Pine (Pinus arizonica) trees, both near natural permanent water sources. Our recent nest site records along with others in eastern Coahuila suggest the existence of a corridor connecting Texas and Nuevo León populations, highlighting the importance of transboundary natural protected areas for species conservation.