Biology:List of Falconidae

Short description: none

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey and includes caracaras, laughing falcon, forest falcons, falconets, pygmy falcons, falcons and kestrels. They are small to medium-sized birds of prey, ranging in size from the black-thighed falconet, which can weigh as little as 35 grams (1.2 oz), to the gyrfalcon, which can weigh as much as 1,735 grams (61.2 oz). They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The plumage is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey, often with barring of patterning. There is little difference in the plumage of males and females, although a few species have some sexual dimorphism in boldness of plumage. They differ from other Falconiformes in killing with their beaks instead of their talons. They have a "tooth" on the side of their beak for the purpose.

They are classified in eleven genera and 67 species of which two are extinct.

Conventions

Conservation statuses listed for each species follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The symbol indicates that the species's population trend is positive, the symbol indicates that the species's population trend is negative, the symbol indicates that the species's population is stable, and the ? symbol indicates that the species's population trend is unknown. Population trends are based on the Red List of Threatened Species. The super-scripted "IUCN" tag is a link to that species's Red List of Threatened Species page. If a species has taxonomic synonyms, a list of these is provided in the "Scientific name" column, underneath the binomial name and author. If a species has subspecies, a list of these is provided in the "Common name" column, underneath the common name.

Classification

Family: Falconidae

• Subfamily Polyborinae
  • Genus Daptrius – black caracara
  • Genus Ibycter – red-throated caracara (sometimes included in Daptrius)
  • Genus Phalcoboenus (4 species) – Andean and southern South American caracaras
  • Genus Caracara – crested caracaras (2 living species, 1 extinct)
  • Genus Milvago – brown caracaras (2 species)
  • Genus Micrastur – forest falcons (7 species)
• Subfamily Falconinae
  • Genus Herpetotheres – laughing falcon
  • Genus Spiziapteryx – spot-winged falconet
  • Genus Polihierax – pygmy falcons (2 species, includes Neohierax)
  • Genus Microhierax – typical falconets (5 species)
  • Genus Falco – true falcons, hobbies and kestrels (around 37 species)

Following list of Falconidae is based on International Ornithological Congress' World Bird List.

Subfamily Polyborinae

Traditionally, subfamily Polyborinae comprises caracaras and forest falcons which are principally birds of South and Central America. They are classified in six genera and 18 species of which one is extinct since 1906. Unlike the Falco falcons in the same family, caracaras in the five relevant genera are not fast-flying aerial hunters, but are comparatively slow and are often scavengers (a notable exception being the red-throated caracara).

Genus Daptrius

Genus Daptrius Vieillot, 1816 – 1 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Black caracara D. ater Vieillot, 1816 aLC IUCN South America: Amazonia

Genus Ibycter

Genus Ibycter Vieillot, 1816 – 1 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Red-throated caracara I. americanus (Boddaert, 1783) Synonyms: Falco americanus Boddaert, 1783 Daptrius americanus (Boddaert, 1783) aLC IUCN Central & South America : Southern Mexico to southern Brazil

Genus Phalcoboenus

Genus Phalcoboenus d'Orbigny, 1834 - 4 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Carunculated caracara P. carunculatus Des Murs, 1853 aLC IUCN South America: Ecuador, southwest Colombia Mountain caracara P. megalopterus (Meyen, 1834) aLC IUCN South America: Peru to central Chile White-throated caracara P. albogularis (Gould, 1837) aLC IUCN South America: Southern Chile, southern Argentina Striated caracara P. australis (Gmelin, 1788) bNT IUCN South America: Southern islands

Genus Caracara

Genus Caracara Merrem, 1826 - 3 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Guadalupe caracara (Mourning caracara) C. lutosa† (Ridgway, 1876) Synonyms: Polyborus plancus lutosus Caracara plancus lutosus Polyborus lutosus Caracara lutosus aEX IUCN Guadalupe Island, Mexico Extinct probably since 1906 Crested caracara (Carancho) (Carcará) C. plancus (Miller, 1777) Synonyms: Polyborus plancus Miller, 1777 aLC IUCN

Genus Milvago

Genus Milvago Spix, 1824 - 2 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Yellow-headed caracara Subspecies: M. c. cordata Bangs & Penard, TE, 1918 M. c. chimachima (Vieillot, 1816) M. chimachima (Vieillot, 1816) Synonyms: Polyborus chimachima (Vieillot, 1816) Falco readei (Brodkorb, 1959) Milvago readei (Brodkorb, 1959) aLC IUCN Central & South America: Costa Rica to northern Argentina Chimango caracara Subspecies: M. c. chimango Vieillot, 1816 M. c. temucoensis W.L. Sclater, 1918) M. chimango (Vieillot, 1816) Synonyms: Phalcoboenus chimango Ridgway, 1876 aLC IUCN South America : Southern Cone

Genus Micrastur

Forest falcons are endemic to the Americas. They are classified as 7 species in one genus. They are adapted for agility in thick cover rather than outright speed in the open air. They have short wings, long tails, and extraordinarily acute hearing. While generally visually inconspicuous, their songs are commonly heard.

Genus Micrastur G.R. Gray, 1841 - 7 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Barred forest falcon Subspecies: M. r. guerilla Cassin, 1848 M. r. interstes Bangs, 1907 M. r. zonothrax (Cabanis, 1866) M. r. concentricus (Lesson, 1830) M. r. ruficollis (Vieillot, 1817) M. r. olrogi Amadon, 1964 M. ruficollis (Vieillot, 1817) aLC IUCN Central & South America: Southern Mexico to northern Argentina Plumbeous forest falcon M. plumbeus W.L. Sclater, 1918 cVU IUCN Central & South America: Southwestern Colombia, northwestern Ecuador Lined forest falcon M. gilvicollis (Vieillot, 1817) aLC IUCN South America: Amazon rainforest Cryptic forest falcon M. mintoni Whittaker, 2003 aLC IUCN South America: From eastern Amazon rainforest south to Bolivia Slaty-backed forest falcon M. mirandollei (Schlegel, 1862) aLC IUCN Central & South America: Costa Rica to eastern Brazil Collared forest falcon Subspecies: M. s. naso (Lesson, 1830) M. s. semitorquatus (Vieillot, 1817) M. semitorquatus (Vieillot, 1817) aLC IUCN Central & South America: Central Mexico to northern Argentina Buckley's forest falcon M. buckleyi Swann, 1919 aLC IUCN South America: Western Amazon rainforest

Subfamily Falconinae

Genus Herpethotheres

Genus Herpetotheres Vieillot, 1817 - 1 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Laughing falcon (Snake hawk) Subspecies: H. c. cachinnans (Linnaeus, 1758) H. c. fulvescens Chapman, 1915 H. cachinnans (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms: Falco cachinnans (Linnaeus, 1758) Falco sufflator (Linnaeus, 1758) aLC IUCN Central & South America: from Mexico to northern Argentina

Genus Spiziapteryx

Genus Spiziapteryx Kaup, 1852 - 1 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Spot-winged falconet S. circumcincta (Kaup, 1852) Synonyms: 'Harpagus curcumcinctus' (Kaup, 1852) aLC IUCN

Genus Polihierax

Genus Polihierax Kaup, 1847 - 2 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Pygmy falcon (African pygmy falcon) Subspecies: P. s. castanonotus (Heuglin, 1860) P. s. semitorquatus (Smith, 1836) P. semitorquatus (Smith, 1836) aLC IUCN White-rumped falcon (White-rumped pygmy falcon) (White-rumped falconet) (Fielden's falconet) (Burmese pigmy falcon) Subspecies: P. i. insignis Walden, 1872 P. i. cinereiceps Baker, 1927 P. i. harmandi (Oustalet, 1876) P. insignis Walden, 1872 Synonyms: 'Neohierax insignis' (Walden, 1872) bNT IUCN

Genus Microhierax

Genus Microhierax Sharpe, 1874 - 5 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Collared falconet Subspecies: M. c. caerulescens Linnaeus, 1758 M. c. burmanicus Swann, 1920 M. caerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) Synonyms: 'Falco caerulescens' (Linnaeus, 1758) aLC IUCN Black-thighed falconet M. fringillarius (Drapiez, 1824) aLC IUCN White-fronted falconet (Bornean falconet) M. latifrons Sharpe, 1879 bNT IUCN Philippine falconet Subspecies: M. e. erythrogenys (Vigors, 1831) M. e. meridionalis Ogilvie-Grant, 1897 M. erythrogenys (Vigors, 1831) aLC IUCN Pied falconet M. melanoleucos (Blyth, 1843) Synonyms: 'Microhierax melanoleucus' (Blyth, 1843) aLC IUCN

Genus Falco

Falcons are roughly divisible into three or four groups. The first contains the kestrels (probably excepting the American kestrel); the second group contains slightly larger (on average) and more elegant species, the hobbies and relatives. Third are the peregrine falcon and its relatives: variably sized powerful birds which also have a black malar area (except some very light color morphs), and often a black cap also. Very similar to these and sometimes included therein are the four or so species of hierofalcons (literally, "hawk-falcons").

Genus Falco Linnaeus, 1758 - 40 species Common name Scientific name IUCN Red List Status Range Picture Lesser kestrel F. naumanni Fleischer, 1818 aLC IUCN Common kestrel (European kestrel) (Eurasian kestrel) (Old World kestrel) Subspecies: F. t. tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 F. t. perpallidus (Clark, 1907) F. t. interstinctus McClelland, 1840 F. t. objurgatus (Baker, 1929) F. t. canariensis (Koenig, 1890) F. t. dacotiae Hartert, 1913 F. t. neglectus Schlegel, 1873 F. t. alexandri Bourne, 1955 F. t. rupicolaeformis (C. L. Brehm, 1855) F. t. archeri (Hartert & Neumann, 1932) F. t. rufescens Swainson, 1837 F. tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms: F. t. interstictus aLC IUCN Rock kestrel F. rupicolus Daudin, 1800 iNE Southern Africa Malagasy kestrel (Madagascar kestrel) (Malagasy spotted kestrel) (Newton's kestrel) (Madagascar spotted kestrel) Subspecies: F. n. newtoni Gurney, 1863 F. n. aldabranus Grote, 1928 F. newtoni Gurney, 1863 aLC IUCN Madagascar , Aldabra Island Mauritius kestrel F. punctatus Temminck, 1821 dEN IUCN Mauritius Reunion kestrel F. duboisi† Cowles, 1994 aEX IUCN Réunion, extinct since c.1700 Seychelles kestrel F. araea (Oberholser, 1917) cVU IUCN Seychelles Islands Spotted kestrel (Moluccan kestrel) Subspecies: F. m. moluccensis Bonaparte, 1850 F. m. microbalius Oberholser, 1917 F. moluccensis (Bonaparte, 1850) aLC IUCN Moluccas, Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Java and Bali Nankeen kestrel Subspecies: F. c. baru Rand, 1940 F. c. cenchroides Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 F. cenchroides Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 aLC IUCN Widespread in Australia American kestrel Subspecies: F. s. sparverius Linnaeus, 1758 F. s. paulus (Howe & King, L, 1902) F. s. peninsularis Mearns, 1892 F. s. tropicalis (Griscom, 1930) F. s. nicaraguensis Howell, 1965 F. s. sparverioides Vigors, 1827 F. s. dominicensis Gmelin, 1788 F. s. caribaearum Gmelin, 1788 F. s. brevipennis Berlepsch, 1892) F. s. isabellinus Swainson, 1838 F. s. ochraceus (Cory, 1915) F. s. caucae (Chapman, 1915) F. s. aequatorialis Mearns, 1892 F. s. peruvianus (Cory, 1915) F. s. cinnamominus Swainson, 1838 F. s. fernandensis (Chapman, 1915) F. s. cearae (Cory, 1915) F. sparverius Linnaeus, 1758 aLC IUCN Greater kestrel (White-eyed kestrel) Subspecies: F. r. fieldi (Elliot, 1897) F. r. arthuri (Gurney, 1884) F. r. rupicoloides Smith, 1829 F. rupicoloides Smith, 1829 aLC IUCN Fox kestrel F. alopex (Heuglin, 1861) aLC IUCN Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya Grey kestrel F. ardosiaceus Vieillot, 1823 aLC IUCN Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia south to Tanzania and west to Angola and Namibia Dickinson's kestrel (White-rumped kestrel) F. dickinsoni Sclater, 1864 aLC IUCN Angola and Namibia to central Kenya and northern Mozambique Banded kestrel (Madagascar banded kestrel) (Barred kestrel) (Madagascar barred kestrel) F. zoniventris Peters, 1854 aLC IUCN Madagascar Red-necked falcon Subspecies: F. c. chicquera Daudin, 1800 F. c. ruficollis Swainson, 1837 F. c. horsbrughi Gunning & Roberts, 1911 F. chicquera Daudin, 1800 Synonyms: Turumtia chicquera Blyth, 1863 Chicquera typus Bonaparte,1854 Aesalon chicquera Blanford, 1895 bNT IUCN Red-footed falcon F. vespertinus Linnaeus, 1766 bNT IUCN Amur falcon F. amurensis Radde, 1863 aLC IUCN Eastern Asia, southeastern Africa Eleonora's falcon F. eleonorae Gené, 1839 aLC IUCN Southern Europe and also northern Africa, eastern Africa, Madagascar Sooty falcon F. concolor Temminck, 1825 cVU IUCN Aplomado falcon Subspecies: F. f. septentrionalis Todd, 1916 F. f. femoralis Temminck, 1822 F. f. pichinchae Chapman, 1925 F. femoralis Temminck, 1822 aLC IUCN Widespread in Central & South America Merlin Subspecies: F. c. subaesalon Brehm, 1827 F. c. aesalon Tunstall, 1771 F. c. insignis (Clark, 1907) F. c. pacificus (Stegmann, 1929) F. c. pallidus (Sushkin, 1900) F. c. lymani Bangs, 1913 F. c. columbarius Linnaeus, 1758 F. c. suckleyi Ridgway, 1874 F. c. richardsonii Ridgway, 1871 F. columbarius Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms: Aesalon columbarius (Linnaeus, 1758) F. aesalon Tunstall, 1771 aLC IUCN Bat falcon Subspecies: F. r. petoensis Chubb, 1918 F. r. rufigularis Daudin, 1800 F. r. ophryophanes (Salvadori, 1895) F. rufigularis Daudin, 1800 Synonyms: F. albigularis Daudin, 1800 F. fuscocaerulescens Vieillot, 1817 (modern spelling) F. fusco-coerulescens Vieillot, 1817 (original spelling) aLC IUCN Northern Mexico to northeastern Argentina Orange-breasted falcon F. deiroleucus Temminck, 1825 bNT IUCN Southern Mexico to northeastern Argentina Eurasian hobby Subspecies: F. s. subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758 F. s. streichi Hartert & Neumann, 1907 F. subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758 aLC IUCN African hobby F. cuvierii Smith, 1830 aLC IUCN Eastern, central, western and southeastern Africa Oriental hobby F. severus Horsfield, 1821 aLC IUCN Northwestern India to Solomon Islands Australian hobby (Little falcon) Subspecies: F. l. hanieli Hellmayr, 1914 F. l. longipennis Swainson, 1838 F. l. murchisonianus Mathews, 1912 F. longipennis Swainson, 18371 aLC IUCN Widespread in Australia New Zealand falcon F. novaeseelandiae Gmelin, 1788 bNT IUCN Widespread in New Zealand Brown falcon Subspecies: F. b. novaeguineae (Meyer, AB, 1894) F. b. berigora Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 F. berigora Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 Synonyms: Asturaetus furcillatus De Vis, 1906 Plioaetus furcillatus (De Vis, 1906) aLC IUCN Widespread in Australia Grey falcon F. hypoleucos Gould, 1841 cVU IUCN Australia Black falcon F. subniger Gray, 1843 aLC IUCN Australia Lanner falcon Subspecies: F. b. feldeggii Schlegel, 1843 F. b. erlangeri Kleinschmidt, 1901 F. b. tanypterus Schlegel, 1843 F. b. abyssinicus Neumann, 1904 F. b. biarmicus Temminck, 1825 F. biarmicus Temminck, 1825 Synonyms: F. feldeggii Schlegel, 1841 F. lanarius Linnaeus, 1758 aLC IUCN Laggar falcon F. jugger J.E. Gray, 1834 bNT IUCN Pakistan to Burma, India Saker falcon Subspecies: F. c. cherrug Gray, JE, 1834 F. c. coatsi Dementiev, 1945 F. c. hendersoni Hume, 1871 F. c. milvipes Jerdon, 1871 F. cherrug Gray, 1834 Synonyms: F. altaicus (Menzbier, 1891) Hierofalco altaicus Menzbier, 1891 dEN IUCN Central and southern Europe, northeastern Africa and northern Asia Gyrfalcon F. rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758 Synonyms: F. arcticus Holbøll, 1843 F. candicans Gmelin, 1788 F. gyrfalco Linnaeus, 1758 F. islandus Brünnich, 1764 F. obsoletus Gmelin, 1788 F. rusticolus candicans Gmelin, 1788 F. rusticolus grebnitzkii (Severtzov, 1885) F. rusticolus intermedius Gloger, 1834 F. rusticolus islandus Brünnich, 1764 F. rusticolus obsoletus Gmelin, 1788 F. rusticolus rusticolus Linnaeus, 1758 F. swarthi L.H. Miller, 1927 Hierofalco grebnitzkii Severtzov, 1885) Hierofalco islandus (Brünnich, 1764) Hierofalco rusticolus (Linnaeus, 1758) Hierofalco rusticolus candicans (Gmelin, 1788) aLC IUCN Arctic coasts of Northern America, Europe and Asia Prairie falcon F. mexicanus Schlegel, 1850 Synonyms: Gennaia mexicana Hierofalco mexicanus aLC IUCN North America Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 aLC IUCN Widespread worldwide Barbary falcon Falco pelegrinoides Temminck, 1829 aLC IUCN Southwestern Europe and northern Africa Taita falcon Falco fasciinucha Reichenow & Neumann, 1895 cVU IUCN Eastern and southeastern Africa

Bibliography

• Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P, eds (2020). "Seriemas, falcons". IOC World Bird List (v10.1). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.10.1. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/falcons/. 
• Thayer, John; Bangs, Outram (1908). "The Present State of the Ornis of Guadaloupe Island". Condor 10 (3): 101-106. doi:10.2307/1360977. Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20120205020939/http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v010n03/p0101-p0106.pdf.