Leucopternis kuhli

A long-range digiscoped image from the tower at Alta Floresta early one morning. Nevertheless, despite the distance involved, one can still observe the main features of the species the clean white supercilium, largely dark crown and nape, and dark markings on the lower neck and breast sides which distinguish it from the similar Black-faced Hawk. The latter has also recently been confirmed to occur in the Alta Floresta region, and elsewhere south of the Amazon. Recently acquired genetic data suggest that these two raptors, both of which are rather poorly known, are more closely related than expected. Later in the year, at Tupana Lodge, in the Madeira--Purus interfluvium, Guy discovered the previously undiscovered nest of L. kuhli (a paper has been submitted for peer review).