List of Falconidae

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 , to the gyrfalcon, which can weigh as much as . 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 ''Ibycter''

Genus ''Phalcoboenus''

Genus ''Caracara''

Genus ''Milvago''

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.

Subfamily Falconinae

Genus ''Herpethotheres''

Genus ''Spiziapteryx''

Genus ''Polihierax''

Genus ''Microhierax''

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").

Notes

References

Bibliography

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Lists of birds

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