Falco femoralis
The Aplomado Falcon, a strikingly slender and long-winged raptor, measures between 30 to 40 cm (12-16 inches) in length with a wingspan of 70 to 90 cm (28-35 inches). Its distinctive plumage features a slate-gray back and wings, contrasted by a black cap and prominent white supercilium that extends from above the eye to the nape. Underparts are tricolored: a white chest, a broad black belly band, and rich rusty (apricot to cinnamon) thighs and undertail coverts, providing a unique field mark ...
This falcon thrives in open grasslands, savannas, and arid scrublands, often utilizing scattered trees, yucca, or power poles for elevated perches, from sea level up to 4,000 meters in the Andes.
Their primary diet consists of large insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and moths, supplemented by small to medium-sized birds, and occasionally small mammals or reptiles, captured through agile aerial pursuit or ground foraging.
Aplomado Falcons are diurnal hunters, typically most active during early morning and late afternoon. They are renowned for their highly social and cooperative hunting strategies, often with pairs or family groups working together to flush and capture prey. Foraging primarily involves active aeria...
The Aplomado Falcon boasts an expansive range across the Americas, extending from the extreme southern United States (primarily reintroduced populations in southern Texas, New Mexico, and occasionally Arizona) southward through Mexico, Central America, and most of South America. Its breeding rang...
Least Concern
- The name 'Aplomado' comes from the Spanish word for 'lead-colored' or 'slate-gray,' referring to its distinctive back plumage. - Unlike most falcons, Aplomado Falcons are known for their cooperative hunting, where pairs or family groups work together to capture prey. - They are 'nest appropriat...