Mexican Highlands red-tailed hawk explained

The Mexican Highlands red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis hadropus) is a subspecies of red-tailed hawk endemic to the Mexican Highlands. Not all authorities recognize this race,^[1] however, in recent years, most list it as valid.^{[2] [3]} Like other Neotropical races, this one is relatively small. wing chord averages 378.9mm in males and 401.1mm in females. Males and females average 215and in tail length, 89.1and in tarsal length and 26.3and in culmen length. Apparently, this race is similar to B. j. kemsiesi to the south but unlike that race it has rufous barring that extends to the flanks and belly. Apparently, some dark morphs have occurred. One other unique feature is its massive feet (as implied in the subspecies' scientific name), with a toe length nearly 10% longer than the western red-tailed hawk (B. j. calurus) despite its otherwise small body size. The evolutionary reason for these relatively large feet is unknown.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Ferguson-Lees, J. . Christie, D. . amp . 2001 . Raptors of the World . . 978-0-7136-8026-3 . London.
2. Preston, C. R. & Beane, R. D. (2009). "Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)". The Birds of North America. .
3. Storer, R. W.. 1962. Variation in the Red-tailed Hawks of southern Mexico and Central America . Variación de los gavilanes colirrojos del sur de México y Centroamérica . The Condor . 64. 1. 77–78.
4. Palmer, R. S. ed. (1988). Handbook of North American Birds. Volume 5 Diurnal Raptors (Part 2).