Barred Forest-Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis)

Identification & Behavior: ~34.5 cm (13.5 in). The adult Barred Forest-Falcon has gray head and rest of the upperparts. The underparts are narrowly barred with dusky. The eyes are brown. The cere, face, and area around the eyes are yellow/orange. The Juvenile has a dark head and rest of the upperparts. The cere is dark and the face is dull yellowish. Some juvenile birds have buff underparts and other white underparts, with faint barring. It is similar to the more scarce Lined Forest-Falcon but is distinguished by having brown iris and barring through most of the underparts. The Barred Forest-Falcon has three pale bars on the tail versus 2 bars in the Lined Forest-Falcon.

Status: The Barred Forest-Falcon is widespread but uncommon to rare in Amazonia. It also occurs in the semi-deciduous forest of extreme northwest Peru. It is known to range up to 1000 m along the eastern foothill of the Andes and to about 800 m along the western foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Halcón-Montés Barrado.

Sub-species: Barred Forest-Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis interstes), Bangs 1907. W Colombia, W Ecuador, NW Peru.
(M. r. zonothorax), Cabanis 1866. Colombia in E Andean foothills, S perhaps to Bolivia.
(M. r. concentricus), Lesson 1830. Amazonia.

Meaning of Name: Micrastur: Gr. mikros= small; and astur= hawk, goshawk. ruficollis: L. rufus= brown and collis, collum= neck.

See more of the Family Falconidae