Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis)

Order: Falconiformes | Family: Falconidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

bat-falcon
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Brazil

bat-falcon
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Ecuador

bat-falcon
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian, Ecuador

bat-falcon
Age: Juvenile | Sex: Unknown | Loc. San Martin, Peru

Identification & Behavior: ~27.5 cm (10.8 in).  The Bat Falcon has a black head and rest of the upperparts. The throat, upper breast, and sides of the neck vary from pale, buffy, and rufous. The underparts are black with white barring. The thigh and vent areas are chestnut. The legs are yellow.  It is very similar to the larger Orange-breasted Falcon but is distinguished by smaller size and smaller feet.

Status: The Bat Falcon is uncommon in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1500 m along the foothill of the Andes. It is rare in the deciduous forest of extreme northwest Peru. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Halcón Caza Murciélagos.

Sub-species: Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis petoensis), C. Chubb 1918.
(F. r. rufigularis), Daudin 1800.

Meaning of Name: Falco: Gr. phalkön= falcon. rufigularis: L. rufigularis= brown throat.

See more of the Family Falconidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
bat falconVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.