Great Black Hawks (Buteogallus urubitinga) are large birds of prey known for their mostly black plumage, yellow legs, and yellow cere. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Argentina to southern Arizona, and are categorized as a species of Least Concern. These birds build platform nests made of sticks in emergent trees or on power poles, and lay one egg with red to purplish-brown markings, which incubates for 35-37 days. After hatching, the young grow quickly, and the male works hard to bring enough food for the female and offspring.

Do Great Black Hawks Abandon Their Eggs?

There is no specific information available on Great Black Hawks abandoning their eggs. However, in the case of other raptor species, such as Red-tailed Hawks and Common Black Hawks, it has been observed that they might abandon their nests and chicks due to various reasons, such as human disturbance or predation.

Reasons Why Birds May Abandon Their Nests

Image source: Great Black Hawk by Bernard DUPONT

In general, birds may abandon their nests for several reasons, including:

1. Disturbance by Predators or Humans: If the nest is disturbed by predators or human activity, the birds may choose to abandon it to protect themselves and their offspring.

2. Infertility or Incubation Failure: If the eggs fail to hatch due to infertility or incubation failure, the birds may abandon the nest.

3. Adverse Environmental Conditions: Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, strong winds, or extreme temperatures, can lead to nest abandonment.

Nest Abandonment in Waterfowl

In the case of waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, nest abandonment can occur due to various reasons, including:

• Infertility: If the eggs fail to hatch due to infertility, the birds may abandon the nest.
• Incubation Failure: If the eggs fail to hatch due to improper incubation, the birds may abandon the nest.
• Predation: If the nest is disturbed by predators, the birds may choose to abandon it.
• Human Disturbance: If the nest is disturbed by human activity, the birds may abandon it.

Nest Abandonment in Other Raptor Species

While there is no specific data on Great Black Hawks abandoning their eggs, other raptor species, such as Red-tailed Hawks and Common Black Hawks, have been observed to abandon their nests and chicks due to various reasons:

Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tailed Hawks are known to abandon their nests and chicks due to:

• Human Disturbance: If the nest is disturbed by human activity, such as construction or recreational activities, the hawks may abandon it.
• Predation: If the nest is threatened by predators, the hawks may choose to abandon it.

Common Black Hawks

Common Black Hawks have been observed to abandon some former nesting areas due to:

• Human Disturbance: If the nesting area is disturbed by human activity, such as development or recreational activities, the hawks may abandon it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there is no specific data on Great Black Hawks abandoning their eggs, it is known that birds, in general, may abandon their nests due to various factors such as human disturbance, predation, infertility, or adverse environmental conditions. The reasons for nest abandonment can vary among different species, and it is important to consider these factors when studying the nesting behavior of birds.

References:
– Why Would Red-Tailed Hawks Abandon Their Nest and Chicks?
– Great Black Hawk
– Common Black Hawk
– I Haven’t Seen an Adult Bird in a While. Is the Nest Abandoned?