en/sustainability/biodiversity/animals/birds/double-toothed-kite/552

Biodiversity

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Double-toothed Kite
Harpagus diodon | --

Characterization: This species measures 33 cm. Gray with its lower wing covers and shorts a uniform brown, and with a black stripe.
Distribution: This bird can be found from the Guianas to Paraguay, Argentina and northern and mid-western Brazil.
Habitat: Not very dense forests. The species has been seen both in primary forest areas and in secondary or deciduous forests; it seems to live well in changed environments, even near cities, using roadside electricity poles as perches.
Habits: The Double-toothed Kite is extremely territorial and performs repulsive flights near a potential aggressor, such as other, larger hawks.
Diet: It eats large insects, lizards, cicadas or other small birds' offspring. It pursues army ants to catch animals scared by them.
Breeding: Its breeding period was between October and December. Overall, this bird builds its nest in the shape of a shallow platform, making it out of dry sticks on a fork made up by two branches located on the upper third a tree at a height of about 12 meters. The nest is not very camouflaged
In the UFRA area: This species is considered rare at the studied farms. Its spatial distribution was limited to the organic sugarcane fields and restored native forests.