STATUS: Locally fairly common.
HABITAT: Inhabits deep, rough, and rocky wooded canyons and tree lined rivers along middle slopes of desert mountains, especially in open deciduous or pine-oak woodland.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Large trees for nesting.
NEST: Builds a bulky nest in large trees, usually cottonwoods along streams and rivers, 25 to 100 feet above ground in leafy top. Rarely nests in mesquites.
FOOD: Eats chipmunks, quail and small birds, lizards, small fishes, and frogs (little is known about diet).
REFERENCES: Heintzelman 1979, Oberholser 1974a, Terres 1980.