Birds of Mexico

    FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae (Caracaras, Falcons)  
Genus: Falco (7 species, 38 worldwide)


Merlin
Merlin (Falco columbarius columbarius)
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA
  A small migratory falcon that is very slightly larger and less colorful than the American Kestrel.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small migratory falcon that is very slightly larger and less colorful than the American Kestrel.

Orange-breasted Falcon
Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) Near Threatened
Chapada dos GuimarĂ£es, Brazil  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

A large falcon (male is smaller) similarly colored to the Bat Falcon, except with a well-defined orange band across the chest.

Aplomado Falcon
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Mendoza, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Perhaps a tiny bit smaller than the Peregrine Falcon. Uncommon. Found in open areas and usually far from people.

Prairie Falcon
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Salton Sea, California, United States  
   
Photograph by Tom Benson     Copyright and usage info


Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Spain  
   
Photograph by Carlos Delgado     Copyright and usage info

A medium-sized falcon believed to be the fastest animal on the planet. Note the black mask. Peregrine means wanderer, and this species is possible almost anywhere.
In flight.

Bat Falcon
Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis petoensis)
Tatama National Park, Pueblo Rico, Risaralda, Colombia
  A small falcon, but larger than a Merlin or Kestrel.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


American Kestrel
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Male
Montevideo, Uruguay  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

American Kestrel
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Female
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA
  The female has a brown wing.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small falcon found throughout the Americas and Caribbean. Some races migrate. Feeds on small rodents and lizards. Sometimes hovers.


© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba