Chilean Hawk (Accipiter chilensis)

During breeding season 2011–2012 we studied nesting habits of two Chilean Hawks (Accipiter chilensis) pairs in the Valdivian Coastal Range, Chile. One nest site was located within a commercial mature Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) plantation and the other within an extensive remnant of second-growth evergreen forest. Both sites were located in rugged terrain with variable elevations (80–520 m s.n.m.), slopes of 20–30°, presence of small ravines, and near roads (linear distance, LD = 18–245 m), open areas (LD = 127–250 m), and water courses (LD = 46–30 m). Nesting sites were close to rural residences (LD = 127–500 m), but they were relatively far from urban areas (LD = 6–13 km). Nests were built inside the crown of live trees (>15 m tall, 21–46 cm in diameter at breast height), 11–19 m above-ground and close to the main trunk (20–30 cm in distance). The two nests were round-shaped platforms (length × width = 40 × 40 cm, and 45 × 34 cm) composed of strongly interlaced dry twigs and sticks (10–50 cm length, 1–2 cm width,). Platforms were firmly placed on forked branches (five to six) and were relatively hidden from the ground. Although preliminary, we think our results will contribute to better conservation planning for the Chilean Hawk in the coastal mountain range of southern Chile.