It was considered by most authorities to be a subspecies of the Mangrove Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus), although aspects of its behavior were little studied.

However, in 2007, the American Ornithologists' Union classified it as a separate species based on differing vocalizations and plumage patterns.

[3] The Cuban black hawk is endemic to Cuba, where it is found primarily in coastal and mangrove regions and on Isla de la Juventud.

[3][1] The species primarily feeds on crabs and also takes small vertebrates (fish, lizards, rodents and birds).

Numbers are suspected to be declining due to the continued degradation and draining of its habitat, which also increases fragmentation of the population.