Collared forest falcon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collared forest falcon |
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Micrastur
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| Species: |
semitorquatus
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The collared forest falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus) is a type of bird of prey in the Falconidae family. It's the biggest bird in the Micrastur group. These falcons live in the warm, wet rainforests of Central and South America.
They are quite shy and often hide in the thick forest trees. You might only know they are there by their special calls. Their bodies are built to move quickly through the forest. They eat many different animals, from small frogs to large turkeys.
These falcons often make their nests in holes in Spanish cedar trees. Sadly, these trees are also cut down by people for wood. This could be a problem for the collared forest falcon's future.
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What Does the Collared Forest Falcon Look Like?
The collared forest falcon has a dark back and a white neck and chest. There are three main color types, called morphs: pale, tawny, and dark. The pale and tawny types have a light-colored ring around their neck. This is why they are called "collared."
This is the largest type of forest falcon. It can be about 46 to 58 cm (18 to 23 in) long. Its wings can spread 72 to 86 cm (28 to 34 in) wide. Males usually weigh around 523 g (1.15 lb). Females are larger, weighing about 740 g (1.63 lb).
Even though it lives in forests and has rounded wings like a hawk, it is a true falcon. Its skull and how it moults (sheds feathers) show it belongs to the Falconidae family.
Male and Female Differences
Female collared forest falcons are usually bigger than males. They have larger beaks, tails, and wings. This difference in size between males and females is called sexual size dimorphism.
Baby Falcons
When baby falcons hatch, they have soft white fuzz called natal down. Their eyes open after a few days. Their pupils are blue at first, then turn brown after about a month.
After a few weeks, the young falcons can defend themselves. By six weeks, their fuzz is gone, and they have juvenile feathers. They leave the nest before their wing and tail feathers are fully grown. For several weeks, they stay near the nest, growing bigger and more confident.
Where Do Collared Forest Falcons Live?
Collared forest falcons live in many countries in Central and South America. These include Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and Argentina. They are very common, with an estimated population of 500,000 to 5 million birds. They stay in these areas all year long.
These falcons can live in many different places. They are found in wet areas like mangroves and rainforests. They also live in drier gallery forests and areas with tall new plant growth. They like places with thick plants on the ground. This helps them move and hunt easily. They can live from sea level up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) high.
How Do Collared Forest Falcons Behave?
Their Calls
The collared forest falcon has a special call. It sounds like a low, almost human-like "ow" or "ahr." During the breeding season, you can hear these calls early in the morning.
Their low-pitched calls can travel far through the thick forest. These calls help them mark their territory. Breeding pairs often keep a certain distance from each other.
The most common call is an eight-second song. It has three or four "ow" or "ahr" notes. Sometimes, the female will add a faster, longer call with many more notes. Young falcons make a "scree" sound at first. Later, they switch to single "ahr" calls.
What Do They Eat?
The collared forest falcon hunts by hiding in the trees. Then, it flies, runs, or hops along the forest floor to catch its prey. They have a great sense of hearing, like owls. This helps them find animals in the dense forest. Their flexible tail feathers also help them chase prey through thick plants.
Micrastur falcons eat many different animals. Their diet includes birds, mammals, lizards, snakes, and insects. One study looked at 223 prey items. It found that most of their diet was mammals (46.2%). Birds made up 34.5%, reptiles 18.7%, and amphibians 0.6%. They eat prey from small 20 g (0.7 oz) frogs to very large 3.2 kg (7 lb) animals.
The collared forest falcon eats much larger prey than its smaller relative, the barred forest falcon.
How They Reproduce
Collared forest falcons look for mates and nest sites from January to March. This is the dry season. They also exchange food and mate during this time. Females lay eggs over about 30 days, mostly in March.
The female sits on the eggs for 46 to 48 days. The male brings all the food during this time. The young falcons usually leave the nest when they are about 50 days old. They stay with their parents for another 6 to 11 weeks. The mother starts hunting again later in the nesting period. There have even been cases of a collared forest falcon feeding young that are not its own.
Nests
Collared forest falcons build their nests in natural holes in large trees. They don't dig the holes themselves. These holes are often made by decay or broken branches. They don't add any extra material to the nest.
The nests and entrances are quite large. This is to fit the big female birds. They prefer very large trees, especially Spanish cedar (Cedrela mexicana). Other trees they use include Honduras mahogany and Yellow Mombin. Nests in living trees are much more successful than those in dead trees. Most pairs use the same nest site year after year.
Eggs
Collared forest falcon eggs are dark reddish-brown with tan or dark brown spots. Females usually lay only two eggs. Each egg weighs about 53.4 g (1.88 oz).
Conservation Status
The collared forest falcon is currently listed as "least concern" for conservation. This means it is not in immediate danger. It lives in many different types of forests.
However, these falcons prefer to nest in large, old trees like the Spanish cedar. These trees are also popular for logging. Scientists are studying how logging might affect these large birds. If their habitat changes too much, it might be hard for them to adapt.
