[order] FALCONIFORMES | [family] Falconidae | [latin] Falco femoralis | [authority] Temminck, 1822 | [UK] Aplomado Falcon | [FR] Faucon aplomado | [DE] Aplomadofalke | [ES] Halcon Aleto | [NL] Aplomado-valk
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
Members of the genus falco are mostly medium-sized falcons, but vary from the large peregrine falcon to the small American kestrel. The wings are long and pointed and used almost continuously during flight. The bill is short, powerful, and with a distinct ‘tooth’ on each side. Most falcons of this group have a black teardrop-shaped ‘mustache’ mark on each side of the head. Falcons are fastflying birds of open country and are famous for attaining high speeds as they dive from high altitudes to knock birds out of the air.
Physical charateristics
The Aplomado Falcon is a distinctive bird of prey; dull red underparts, a grey back, a long and banded tail, and a striking black and white facial pattern distinguish adults. The lower breast sports a broad, blackish band or cummerbund with small, whitish crossbars. The tail is banded with white and black (or grey) stripes. A distinctive white line is located below the black cap on its head. Feet are bright yellow and the sexes are similar, with males noticeably smaller than females. The Aplomado is 38-42 cm with a wingspan of 102-122 cm. This is intermediate in size between the American kestrel and peregrine falcon.
Listen to the sound of Aplomado Falcon
[audio:https://planetofbirds.com/MASTER/FALCONIFORMES/Falconidae/sounds/Aplomado Falcon.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by Nick Athanas
| wingspan min.: | 80 | cm | wingspan max.: | 90 | cm |
| size min.: | 37 | cm | size max.: | 45 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 31 | days | incubation max.: | 32 | days |
| fledging min.: | 28 | days | fledging max.: | 32 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 3 |
Range
Latin America : widespread. Aplomado Falcon has a scattered and somewhat uncertain distribution, including portions of northern and southeast Mexico, Central America, and large parts of South America.
Habitat
This falcon prefers open rangeland and savannah?semi-arid grasslands with scattered trees and scrub growth. Associated trees are the oaks, acacias, or palms. The species is found in the coastal prairies along sand ridges, in woodlands along desert streams, and in desert grasslands with scattered mesquite and yucca. In central Mexico the falcon has been found in open pine woodland. Taller trees provide better perches from which to spot prey. Similarly, sparser ground cover provides less cover for prey.
Reproduction
Aplomado falcons are most often seen in pairs. They do not build their own nests, but use stick nests built by other birds. Pairs work together to find prey and flush it from cover. Almost nothing is known about the population biology of the species. Mated pairs have a typical maximum reproductive output of 2-3 young per year, assuming they nest only once per year. Clutches of four eggs are laid infrequently. In eastern Mexico, however, there is evidence that Aplomados nest at least twice a year. A pair of Aplomados might produce 6-8 young/year. Nothing is known about the rates of replacement of adults at nest sites, the degree of fidelity shown to a mate or a territory, or the dispersal of the young falcons from their home territories. Both adults take part in incubation, which requires 32 days. Nestlings fledge about 35 days after hatching, but remain in the vicinity of the nest for at least a month after fledging. If like most raptors, the male does the majority of the hunting while the young are small, while the female defends the nest, broods the young, and feeds them when the male brings in food. Both adults provide food to the fledged young.
Feeding habits
Diet consists of birds like mourning dove, white-winged dove, groove-billed Ani, female great-tailed grackle (Quisclaus mexicanus), and yellow-billed cuckoo. Common ground doves, Northern bobwhite, meadowlarks, and tropical kingbirds were also commonly taken. However beetles, wasps, cidadas, moths, and butterflies were also taken. Although insects are very small compared to typical avian prey, they seemed to be easily captured and abundant enough to make it feasible for the falcons to capture them in large numbers. In dryer parts of their range these falcons preyed on lark buntings, lark sparrows; horned Larks, dragonflies and crickets and small reptiles.
Video Aplomado Falcon
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz3m7IH-Zec
copyright: youtube
Conservation
This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 12,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be 50,000-500,000 individuals (Rich et al. 2003). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
The Aplomados of eastern Mexico can be found on their territories throughout the year, hunting and feeding together, and defending the previous year’s platform. The birds that bred in the United States, at the northern portion of the historic breeding range, may have migrated south for the winter though there are some winter records from the U.S. There appears to have been some autumn wandering, for the adult male that was collected in Austin County, Texas, in December 1900 was 160 km (100 miles) beyond known historic breeding range. Sixteen of 21 dated post-1930 records for the species in the U.S. were also in late summer, autumn, or winter; likely post breeding wanderers. In Suriname a rare vagrant to the Northern part of the Country.
The Aplomados of eastern Mexico can be found on their territories throughout the year, hunting and feeding together, and defending the previous year’s platform. The birds that bred in the United States, at the northern portion of the historic breeding range, may have migrated south for the winter though there are some winter records from the U.S. There appears to have been some autumn wandering, for the adult male that was collected in Austin County, Texas, in December 1900 was 160 km (100 miles) beyond known historic breeding range. Sixteen of 21 dated post-1930 records for the species in the U.S. were also in late summer, autumn, or winter; likely post breeding wanderers. In Suriname a rare vagrant to the Northern part of the Country.
Migration
Sedentary, but Northern population may migrate South in the USA.
Distribution map
Literature
Title HUNTING ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE APLOMADO FALCON (FALCO FEMORALIS) AND THE MANED WOLF (CHRYSOCYON BRACHYURUS) IN EMAS NATIONAL PARK, CENTRAL BRAZIL
Author(s): LEANDRO SILVEIRA, ANAH T. A. JACOMO et al
Abstract: Hunting associations between Aplomado Falcons (Fal..[more]..
Source: The Condor 99:201-202
Title Predation on the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) and consumption of the
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) by the Aplomado Falcon (Falco
femoralis) in Brazil
Campo Flicker (Colaptes campestris) by the Aplomado Falcon (Falco
femoralis) in Brazil
Author(s): Marco Antonio M. Granzinolli and Jos Carlos Motta-Junior
Abstract: The Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) has a wide d..[more]..
Source: Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 14 (4) 453-454
Title Wild-reared aplomado falcons survive and recruit at
higher rates than hacked falcons in a common environment
higher rates than hacked falcons in a common environment
Author(s): Jessi L. Brown, Michael W. Collopy et al
Abstract: The northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis sept..[more]..
Source: BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 131 (2006) 453 – 458
Title THE DIET OF THE APLOMADO FALCON (FALCO FEMORALIS)
IN EASTERN MEXICO
IN EASTERN MEXICO
Author(s): DEAN P. HECTOR
Abstract: describe here breeding season diets of Aplomado Fa..[more]..
Source: The Condor 87:336-342
Title APLOMADO FALCON STEALS PREY FROM LITTLE BLUE HERON
Author(s): WILLIAM S. CLARK et al.
Abstract: A juvenile male Aplomado Falcon (Falcofemoralis) w..[more]..
Source: J. Field Ornithol., 60(3):380-381