Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Aplomado Falcon

Aplomado Falcon

Falco femoralis

The Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis, is a medium-sized raptor, resembling a small Peregrine Falcon but with a distinctly slender build. It boasts long wings and a long tail, with males typically weighing between 208–305 grams and females 271–460 grams. The length of these falcons ranges from 30–40 centimeters, with an average wingspan of about 90 centimeters.

Identification Tips

Adult Aplomado Falcons have dark blue-grey upperparts and head, with a stark white throat and eyestripe. The "moustache" is a prominent feature, contrasting with the white. The upper breast mirrors the throat's whiteness, while black patches adorn each side of the lower breast, converging in the center. Below these patches lies a light cinnamon belly and thighs. The tail is black with fine white or grey bars and a white tip. The cere, eye-ring, and feet present a yellow or yellow-orange hue. Juveniles share a similar appearance but have blackish brown upperparts and belly band, a streaked chest, and buffy white on the head and breast. Their underparts' cinnamon is paler, as are their feet.

Habitat

The Aplomado Falcon favors dry grasslands, savannahs, and marshes. In Brazil, it is also observed in urban areas, including large cities like São Paulo.

Distribution

This falcon's range extends from northern Mexico and Trinidad to southern South America. However, it has been extirpated from many areas, including much of northern and central Mexico.

Behaviour

The Aplomado Falcon is a formidable hunter, preying mainly on small birds. It is known to soar at twilight, hunting insects which it consumes mid-flight. It also takes advantage of fields being burned, where it may gather in numbers, and has been observed to cooperate with others, particularly in pairs, during hunts.

Breeding

Nesting occurs in bushes or trees, where a platform of sticks is constructed. The typical clutch consists of two or three eggs.

Similar Species

The Aplomado Falcon may be confused with the Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis) and the Orange-breasted Falcon (F. deiroleucus), which share a similar color pattern but have a more robust build and darker heads.

Diet and Feeding

Aplomado Falcons feed on large invertebrates and small vertebrates, with small birds constituting the majority of their diet. They have been observed following larger predators like the Maned Wolf to catch flushed prey and can occasionally take down larger birds.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Aplomado Falcon as a Species of Least Concern, though its numbers have declined in certain areas due to habitat destruction. Reintroduction efforts are ongoing in places like West and South Texas to restore its presence in regions where it has disappeared.

Aplomado Falcon Sounds


Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Aplomado Falcons on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Caracaras, Falcons

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
David C
Very knowledgeable group
Nice friendly birding community. Very knowledgeable group with a willingness to help.
Anonymous
The best bird logging app
Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Patricia L
Very encouraging birding app
Easy to use, fun to see progress and encouraging to receive feedback from other users.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.