About Leucopternis semiplumbeus Lawrence, 1861
The semiplumbeous hawk (Leucopternis semiplumbeus Lawrence, 1861) is a small raptor. It averages 30–33 cm (12–13 inches) in length, which is roughly the size of a kestrel or merlin. Its upper body is dark gray, while its underparts and throat are white. This species is easily recognizable by its distinct orange cere and black face mask. It has bright yellow eyes, and its legs and feet range in color from orange to orange-red. Semiplumbeous hawks are distributed across eastern Honduras, eastern Nicaragua, southern areas of western Colombia (extending east to the Magdalena Valley), and northwest Ecuador (specifically Esmeraldas and northwest Pichincha). There have been multiple recent sight and sound records of this type of hawk in Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in northern Peru; these sightings may belong to this species, or to a closely related undescribed new species. This hawk typically inhabits humid forests in tropical and lower subtropical zones. Across Colombia, it can be spotted at forest edges, within and around forest fragments, and in tall second-growth areas. While it occurs from sea level up to 1000 m in elevation, it is most commonly found below 500 m. There is a single recorded observation of the species at 1600 m.
