Forest falcons are members of the genus Micrastur, part of the family Falconidae. Forest falcons, like many Accipiter‘s but unlike other falcons, are adapted for agility in thick cover rather than outright speed in clear air.
Distribution / Range
They are endemic to the Americas, being found from Mexico in the north, south through Central America, and large parts of South America, as far south as northern Argentina.
Most are restricted to humid tropical and subtropical forests, but the two most widespread species, the Collared and the Barred Forest Falcons, also range into drier and more open habitats.
Description
They have short wings, long tails, and extraordinarily acute hearing. While generally highly inconspicuous, their songs are commonly heard.
Diet / Feeding
Diet is a mixture of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Hunting is often performed in Goshawk fashion: The bird takes up a perch in an inconspicuous position and waits for a prey species to pass, then strikes with a short, rapid pursuit.
Forest falcons are inventive, flexible hunters, and at least some species (such as the relatively long-legged Collared Forest Falcon) are also capable of catching terrestrial prey on foot.
Species
In 2002, a new species was described, found in the Atlantic forest and the southeastern Amazon of Brazil, while later also confirmed for adjacent parts of Bolivia. It has been named Micrastur mintoni, the Cryptic Forest Falcon.
- Barred Forest Falcon, Micrastur ruficollis
- Plumbeous Forest Falcon, Micrastur plumbeus
- Lined Forest Falcon, Micrastur gilvicollis
- Cryptic Forest Falcon, Micrastur mintoni
- Slaty-backed Forest Falcon, Micrastur mirandollei
- Collared Forest Falcon, Micrastur semitorquatus
- Buckley’s Forest Falcon, Micrastur buckleyi
Birds of Prey … Falcon Information … The Sport of Falconry
