It catches them with a short dive from a low perch; it typically takes them to a favored site like a stump to consume them. Breeding The rufous crab hawk makes a "sky-dance" display; it is suspected that only the male performs it. Its breeding season varies geographically, for example between February and August in Suriname and apparently from September onward in southeastern Brazil. It makes a nest of twigs lined with leaves in a mangrove or other tree near water. The clutch size is usually one egg though sometimes two are laid. The incubation period and time to fledging are not known. Vocalization The rufous crab hawk's call is "a loud rather shrill whistle or laugh...'ke-kee-kee-kee-kew-kew'". Status The IUCN originally assessed the rufous crab hawk as being of Least Concern but since 2013 has classed it as Near Threatened. Its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. Ongoing destruction of its mangrove habitat is the principal threat. It varies from rare to fairly common in indifferent parts of its range. Its "restricted habitat makes it highly susceptible locally to any form of deterioration or loss of this habitat" but "this species may tolerate some mangrove disturbance and is found in suburban mangrove swamps in Pará, Brazil." References rufous crab hawk Birds of the Guianas Birds of Trinidad and Tobago Birds of Brazil Birds of the Atlantic Forest Birds of prey of South America rufous crab hawk rufous crab hawk Taxonomy articles created by Polbot