Collared forest falcon
| Collared forest falcon | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes |
| Family: | Falconidae |
| Genus: | Micrastur |
| Species: | M. semitorquatus |
| Subspecies: |
M. semitorquatus semitorquatus
M. semitorquatus naso |
| Binomial name | |
|
Micrastur semitorquatus (Vieillot, 1817) |
|
M. semitorquatus naso
The collared forest falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is the biggest member of the Micrastur genus and a common inhabitant of tropical rainforests in South America.
The collared forest falcon has a dark coloured back with a white neck and breast. The species has three morphological variants (morphs): pale, tawny and dark. The former two have a light coloured collar at the back of their neck, which explains their name. Although its forest lifestyle, rounded, relatively short wings, long tail and lack of the characteristic beak tooth suggest affinities to hawks, there are several morphological connections to the Falconidae in which it is now placed, e.g. moult pattern and the morphology of the skull.
The species can be found in many South American countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, where it is frequently common. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Unlike most other falcons they avoid open areas, as their body is adapted to flying in forests.
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Wikipedia