ADULT HOME RANGE SIZE AND JUVENILE MOVEMENTS OF GRAY HAWKS IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS, USA


 We studied the natural history of Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. We used GPS-GSM telemetry to quantify dispersal time and distance, winter home range size of juveniles, and home range size of adults. Home ranges were calculated using the kernel Brownian bridge home range estimator. The median dispersal date for 14 juvenile Gray Hawks was 11 August and they traveled a median straight-line distance of 453 km. Mean winter home range sizes for 11 juveniles was 707 ha. For juveniles, female winter home ranges were larger than those of males, and juvenile winter home ranges were larger in natural than in urban areas. Mean 95% home range sizes for 20 adult Gray Hawks was 530 ha. Mean adult male home range size was larger in natural than in urban areas. Adult Gray Hawks remained in their home ranges year-round.