![]() |
![]() |
The family Falconidae include falcons and caracaras. They are small to medium-sized birds of prey. They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The plumage is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey. There is little difference in the plumage of males and females, although a few species have some sexual dimorphism in boldness of plumage. All members of the Falconidae are carnivores, feeding on birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects and carrion. In popular imagination the falconids are fast flying | predators, and while this is true of the genus Falco other species, particularly the caracaras are more sedentary in their feeding. The forest falcons are generalist forest hunters. They are solitary hunters and pairs guard territories, although they may form large flocks during migration. Some species, such as the laughing falcon specializes in snakes, others are more generalist. There are eight genera and 18 species of falcons, forest-falcons and caracaras known to occur in Peru. Photo: (left) Bat Falcon ©Jeff Cremer, (right) Southern Caracara ©Jorge Castro. |
Family FALCONIDAE | ||
Falcons, Caracaras | Halcones, Caracaras | |
Laughing Falcon | Halcón Reidor | Herpetotheres cachinnans |
Barred Forest-Falcon | Halcón-Montés Barrado | Micrastur ruficollis |
Lined Forest-Falcon | Halcón-Montés de Ojo Blanco | Micrastur gilvicollis |
Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon | Halcón-Montés de Dorso Gris | Micrastur mirandollei |
Collared Forest-Falcon | Halcón-Montés Acollarado | Micrastur semitorquatus |
Buckley’s Forest-Falcon | Halcón-Montés de Buckley | Micrastur buckleyi |
Crested Caracara | Caracara Crestado | Caracara cheriway |
Southern Caracara | Caracara Carancho | Caracara plancus |
Red-throated Caracara | Caracara de Vientre Blanco | Ibycter americanus |
Mountain Caracara | Caracara Cordillerano | Phalcoboenus megalopterus |
Black Caracara | Caracara Negro | Daptrius ater |
Yellow-headed Caracara | Caracara Chimachima | Milvago chimachima |
American Kestrel | Cernícalo Americano | Falco sparverius |
Merlin | Halcón Esmerejón | Falco columbarius (NB) |
Bat Falcon | Halcón Caza Murciélagos | Falco rufigularis |
Orange-breasted Falcon | Halcón de Pecho Naranja | Falco deiroleucus |
Aplomado Falcon | Halcón Aplomado | Falco femoralis |
Peregrine Falcon | Halcón Peregrino | Falco peregrinus |
![]() |
PSITTACIDAE: Parrots, Macaws & Parakeets – Loros, Pericos, Guacamayos![]() |