Bicolored hawk

Common name: Bicolored hawk
Scientific name: Accipiter bicolor
Order/Family: Accipitriformes / Accipitridae
Size: Around 28-37 cm long and has a wingspan of 58-68 cm.
Weight: Around 150-240 grams.

Physical Description
Small to medium-sized bird of prey with dark brown plumage on the upper parts and white plumage with dark stripes on the underparts. Small head and a curved beak.

Habitat
Forests, peri-urban and rural areas of South America. In Magallanes, it can often be spotted perched on tree branches or flying in short and fast flights through the forest, mainly those of lenga and coihue. It is found in Torres del Paine National Park, in forested areas of Magallanes National Reserve, and in southern Tierra del Fuego.

Behavior and Diet
Hunts during the day. It is a specialized and skilled bird hunter, although it can also eat insects and small mammals. It is characterized by its ability to hunt in dense and closed forest areas. It has an agile and fast flight that allows it to navigate through branches and leaves of trees, in order to ambush its prey. Additionally, it is known for its "batting" behavior, in which it chases prey through the treetops, using its long and rounded tail to maneuver and change direction quickly.

Breeding
During courtship, the male performs complex flight displays to attract the female, then the pair builds a nest in a tall and leafy tree, where the female incubates from 2 to 3 eggs. During the season, the male defends a territory of approximately 4 to 10 acres, which contains one or more nests. It is known to engage in aggressive conflicts with other males of its species. The eggs hatch after approximately one month, and both parents feed and care for the young for several weeks before becoming independent.

Conservation status
It is considered of "Least Concern" by the IUCN, as it has a wide distribution and a stable population.