Forest falcons are members of the genus Micrastur, part of the family of the family Falconidae. They are endemic to the Americas, and are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil.

Although members of the falcon family, in many respects forest falcons resemble hawks or harriers more than other falcons; indeed, they are often called harrier-hawks, a term which is descriptively apt but taxonomically inaccurate.

Forest falcons, like many Accipiters but unlike other falcons, are adapted for agility in thick forest rather than outright speed in clear air. They have short wings, long tails, and extraordinarily acute hearing.

Diet is a mixture of birds, mammals and reptiles. Hunting is often performed in Goshawk fashion: the bird takes up a perch in an inconspicuous position and waits for a prey species to pass, then strikes with a short, rapid pursuit. Forest-falcons are inventive, flexible hunters, and are also capable of catching terrestrial prey on foot.

In 2002, a new species was described, found in south eastern Amazonia and the rain forests of Brazil. It has been named Micrastur mentoni, the Cryptic Forest Falcon.

• Family FALCONIDAE
  • Genus Micrastur
    • Collared Forest Falcon, Micrastur semitorquatus
    • Barred Forest Falcon, Micrastur ruficollis
    • Lined Forest Falcon, Micrastur gilvicollis
    • Plumbeous Forest Falcon, Micrastur plumbeus
    • Slaty-Backed Forest Falcon, Micrastur mirandollei
    • Buckley's Forest Falcon, Micrastur buckleyi
    • Cryptic Forest Falcon, Micrastur mentoni
  • (9 other genera)

External links

• http://home.wanadoo.nl/r.goedegebuur/roofvog/gestreeptebosvalke.html (go to Dutch version for links to other species)

References

• Bierregaard, R. O. (1994) Species accounts - Genus Micrastur. In: Del Hojo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 2, pp 252-254. Barcelona: Lynx Ediciones
• Whittaker, A. (2002). A new species of forest-falcon (Falconidae: Micrastur) from south eastern Amazonia and the rain forests of Brazil. Wilson Bulletin, 114, 421–445.