It is widespread and often common in open habitats in western and southern South America, including the Falkland Islands.

[4] The taxon exsul from the Juan Fernández Islands is far less variable, being whitish below and grey above in adults of both sexes.

The red-backed race inhabits the widest range of areas of the variable hawk races, including above tree line in mountains, Pacific coastal foothills, Patagonian steppes, agricultural areas and edges of river galleries, beech woods and humid premontane and lowland forests.

The Juan Fernandez race is found on the islands' volcanic slopes and barren grazed grasslands at all elevations.

Smaller numbers of the latter race may visit mountain scrub and stunted Polylepis woodland at as low 900 m (but rarely below 2,900 m).

They are most often seen soaring on warm thermals but may be seen on almost any type of raised perch (from sign posts to large trees).

The most commonly recorded prey includes cavies, tuco-tucos, rabbits, mice and páramo rats.