Excerpts from Robertson and Wolfenden

(pg. 154) The black-hawk problem has become a hardy perennial of Florida field ornithology. Briefly, individuals of some form (or forms) of Buteogallus (B. anthracinus, B. (a.) gundlachii, or B. urubitinga) have appeared intermittently in coastal mangroves of Dade and Broward cos. from at least 1972 to 1991. Up to perhaps four individuals have been present at once, and a several-year hiatus has often intervened between reported observations. Abramson (1976) reviewed the early history, including the only available physical evidence of assured provenance (Published Photograph: Dade Co.: Greynolds Park, 3 May 1975, M. Trafton, in Abramson ibid. Photographs: TTRS p. 261 and 262, Dade Co.: Greynolds Park, 27 Dec 1979, A. Eisenberg). Regarding the M. Trafton photographs sent him for identification, D. Amadon stated: "The photos do appear to be of a young Buteogallus anthracinus." However, other observers beilieved the individuals they studied showed characteristics of B. urubintinga (e.g., W. George in Daniels et.al. 1989; see Appendix C).

Probable Buteogallus also have been reported, even more intermittently, in the Lower Keys. O. T. Owre (pers. comm.) saw an adult on Marquesas Keys, Monroe Co., in the 1970s, and, in the later 1980s, local residents of the Big Pine Key area, Monroe Co., persistently reported a large, dark hawk that emerged from mangroves to feed on crabs at low tide (M. Brown in litt.)

B. (a.) gundlachii of Cuba seems a plausible Florida vagrant; B. urubintinga and continental B. anthracinus do not. Although Florida reports have been attributed to "escaped individuals" (AOU 1983), black-hawks reportedly were unknown in the Miami bird trade in the early 1970s (W. George in Abramson op. cit.), but it is possible that some were in the possession of falconers (B. A. Millsap in litt.)

(pg. 181) Great Black-Hawk
(n. Mexico south through most of South America): An uncatalogued specimen of this species with incomplete data is in UMRC (28 Jan 1992). Although this specimen must be regarded as of doubtful origin, several Miami-area observers recall examining in the flesh an adult Buteogallus found injured in Coral Gables, Dade Co., in the late 1970s and ultimately donated to UMRC. O. T. Owre related the same story regarding this specimen to each of us.

Excerpts from Stevenson and Anderson
Common Black-Hawk/Great Black-Hawk

Florida Status: Uncertain. Some reports may pertain to escapes, others, natural vagrants. A pr. of hawks believed to be of this species was found in Greynolds Park (Miami), early 1973, and (perhaps the same 2) at Virginia Key, 12-15 mi to the south. "Aerial courtship flights" were seen at least once, and an imm., Greynolds Park, 3 May 1975, was photographed (Abramson 1976); others photographed there: 1 on 17 Jan 1978 (called a Snail Kite!) and 1 on 27 Dec 1979 (TTRS P158 & P261-2). Dean Amadon identified the first of these photos a B. anthracinus (Ogden 1975b). Unresolved is the question of the birds' origin. If they were escapes from an aviary, it is too early to consider the species established. If from a wild population, the closest source is Cuba (B. a. gundlachii), but some observers claim the birds have too little white in the wings for that race. As the species is not very migratory, its derivation from the range of B. a. anthracinus may be deemed less likely, but that race has wandered as close to Florida as Puerto Rico (AOU 1983). Subsequent Florida sightings in the Miami area (including nearby Broward Co.) were (1) 29 Jan & (2) 18 Dec 1976; (2) winter 1977-78; and (1) 27 Dec 1979 (above). The absence of reports published recently may indicate the small population no longer exists. Robertson & Woolfenden (1992) added reports from Monroe Co.: 1 ad., Marquesas Keys, 1970s, O.T. Owre; "a large dark hawk," Big Pine Key area, late 1980s, "persistently reported ... emerged from mangroves to feed on crabs at low tide." According to the AOU Check-list (1983), all of these reports "may pertain in part to B. Urubitinga" (Great Black-Hawk). This statement is presumably based on an uncataloged specimen of that species at UMRC that was assumed to have come from Florida, but there is no assurance that it was obtained there in the wild, if at all (O.T. Owre, pers. comm.); the data consist of a name, address, and telephone number (none of which can be traced) but no locality or date (W.B. Robertson, pers. comm.). However, there were reports of an injured Buteogallus, Coral Gables, late 1970s, that was donated to UMRC, that may pertain to this specimen (Robertson & Woolfenden 1992).