Ajay Kumar at 20:16, 30 August 2023

2023-08-30T20:16:41Z

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{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Falcons and caracaras
| fossil_range = [[Oligocene]] – [[Holocene]], {{fossilrange|30.2|0}}
| image = Brown-Falcon,-Vic,-3.1.2008.jpg
| image_caption = [[Brown falcon]]<br/>(''Falco berigora'')
| taxon = Falconidae
| authority = [[William Elford Leach|Leach]], 1820
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
[[Herpetotherinae]]<br/>
[[Polyborinae]]<br/>
[[Falconinae]]
}}

The '''falcons''' and '''caracaras''' are around 65 [[species]] of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family '''Falconidae''' (representing all extant species in the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Falconiformes]]). The family is divided into three subfamilies: [[Herpetotherinae]], which includes the [[laughing falcon]] and [[forest falcon]]s; [[Polyborinae]], which includes the [[spot-winged falconet]] and the [[Caracara (subfamily)|caracara]]s; and [[Falconinae]], the [[falcon]]s and [[kestrel]]s (''Falco'') and falconets (''[[Microhierax]]'').

==Description==
Falcons and caracaras are small to medium-sized birds of prey, ranging in size from the [[black-thighed falconet]], which can weigh as little as {{convert|35|g|oz}}, to the [[gyrfalcon]], which can weigh as much as {{convert|1735|g|oz}}. They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The [[plumage]] is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey, often with barring of patterning. There is little difference in the plumage of males and females, although a few species have some [[sexual dimorphism]] in boldness of plumage.

==Distribution and habitat==
The family has a [[cosmopolitan distribution]] across the world, absent only from the densest forest of central Africa, some remote oceanic islands, the high [[Arctic]] and [[Antarctica]]. Some species have exceptionally wide ranges, particularly the cosmopolitan [[peregrine falcon]], which ranges from [[Greenland]] to [[Fiji]] and has the widest natural breeding distribution of any bird. Other species have more restricted distributions, particularly island [[endemism|endemics]] like the [[Mauritius kestrel]]. Most habitat types are occupied, from [[tundra]] to [[rainforest]] and [[desert]]s, although they are generally more birds of open country and even forest species tend to prefer broken forest and forest edges. Some species, mostly in the genus ''Falco'', are fully migratory, with some species summering in Eurasia and wintering entirely in Africa, other species may be partly migratory. The [[Amur falcon]] has one of the longest migrations, moving from East Asia to southern Africa.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Raptor migration at Hoang Lien Nature Reserve, northern Vietnam |journal=Forktail |year=2002 |first=Andrew |last=Tordoff |volume=18 |pages=45–48 |url=http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/18pdfs/Tordoff-Raptor.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610174902/http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/18pdfs/Tordoff-Raptor.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref>

==Behaviour==

===Diet and feeding===
[[File:Laughing Falcon.jpg|thumb|The [[laughing falcon]] is a snake-eating specialist]]
Falcons and caracaras are carnivores, feeding on birds, small mammals including bats,<ref>Mikula, P., Morelli, F., Lučan, R. K., Jones, D. N., & Tryjanowski, P. (2016). Bats as prey of diurnal birds: a global perspective. Mammal Review.</ref> reptiles, insects and carrion. In popular imagination the falconids are fast flying predators, and while this is true of the genus ''Falco'' and some falconets, other species, particularly the caracaras, are more sedentary in their feeding. The [[forest falcon]]s of the [[Neotropics]] are generalist forest hunters. Several species, particularly the true falcons, will stash food supplies in caches.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.2307/1367531 | last1 = Collopy | first1 = M.W. | year = 1977 | title = Food Caching by Female American Kestrels in Winter | jstor = 1367531| journal = Condor | volume = 79 | issue = 1| pages = 63–68 }}</ref> They are solitary hunters and pairs guard territories, although they may form large flocks during [[bird migration|migration]]. Some species are specialists, such as the [[laughing falcon]], which specialises in [[snake]]s; others are more generalist in their diet.

===Breeding===
[[File:Falco vespertinus.jpg|thumb|The [[red-footed falcon]] is unusual in being a colonial breeding falcon]]
The falcons and caracaras are generally solitary breeders, although around 10% of species are [[bird colony|colonial]], for example the [[red-footed falcon]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Ille | first1 = R. | last2 = Hoi | first2 = H. | last3 = Grinschgl | first3 = F. | last4 = Zink | first4 = F. | year = 2002 | title = Paternity assurance in two species of colonially breeding falcon: the kestrel ''Falco tinnunculus'' and the red-footed falcon ''Falco vespertinus'' | journal = Etologica | volume = 10 | pages = 11–15 }}</ref> They are [[monogamy|monogamous]], although some caracaras may also employ [[alloparenting]] strategies, where younger birds help adults (usually their parents) in raising the next brood of chicks. Nests are generally not built (except by the caracaras), but are co opted from other birds, for example [[pygmy falcon]]s nest in the nests of [[Ploceidae|weavers]], or on the ledges on cliffs. Around 2–4 eggs are laid, and mostly [[avian incubation|incubated]] by the female. Incubation times vary from species to species and are correlated with body size, lasting 28 days in smaller species and up to 35 days in larger species. Chicks [[fledge]] after 28–49 days, again varying with size.

==Relations with humans==
Falcons and caracaras have a complicated relationship with humans. In [[ancient Egypt]] they were deified in the form of [[Horus]], the sky and sun god who was the ancestor of the [[pharaoh]]s. Caracaras also formed part of the legends of the [[Aztec]]s. Falcons were important in the (formerly often royal) sport of [[falconry]]. They have also been persecuted for their predation on game and farm animals, and that persecution has led to the extinction of at least one species, the [[Guadalupe caracara]]. Several insular species have declined dramatically, none more so than the [[Mauritius kestrel]], which at one time numbered no more than four birds. Around five species of falcon are considered [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] to extinction by the [[IUCN]], including the [[saker falcon]].

==Taxonomy and systematics==
{{See also|List of Falconidae}}
The [[family (biology)|family]] Falconidae was introduced by the English zoologist [[William Elford Leach]] in a guide to the contents of the [[British Museum]] published in 1820.<ref>{{ cite book | last=Leach | first=William Elford | author-link=William Elford Leach | year=1820 | chapter=Eleventh Room | title=Synopsis of the Contents of the British Museum | volume=17 | place=London | publisher=British Museum | edition=17th| page=65 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55257926 }} Although the name of the author is not specified in the document, Leach was the Keeper of Zoology at the time.</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Bock | first=Walter J. | year=1994 | title=History and Nomenclature of Avian Family-Group Names | series=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History | volume= Number 222 | publisher=American Museum of Natural History | place=New York | page=133 | hdl=2246/830 }}</ref> The family is composed of three main branches: the [[Microhierax|falconets]] and true [[falcons]], the [[Caracara (subfamily)|caracara]]s, and the [[forest falcon]]s. Differences exist between authorities in how these are grouped into subfamilies. Also, the placement of the [[laughing falcon]] (''Herpetotheres'') and the [[spot-winged falconet]] (''Spiziapteryx'') varies. One common approach uses two subfamilies [[Polyborinae]] and Falconinae. The first contains the caracaras, forest falcons, and laughing falcon. All species in this group are native to the [[Americas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Polyborinae.html |first=P. R. |last=Myers |author2=C. S. Parr |author3=T. Jones |author4=G. S. Hammond |author5=T. A. Dewey |title=Subfamily Polyborinae (caracaras and forest falcons) |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=2009-08-15}}</ref>

The composition of Falconidae is disputed, and Polyborninae is not featured in the [[American Ornithologists' Union]] checklists for North and South American birds that are produced by its Classification Committees (NACC and SACC). The Check-list of North American Birds considers the laughing falcon a true falcon (Falconinae) and replaces Polyborinae with [[Caracara (subfamily)|Caracarinae]] and [[Forest falcon|Micrasturinae]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php#Falconiformes |title=Check-list of North American Birds |work=North American Classification Committee |publisher=American Ornithologists' Union |access-date=2009-08-15 |archive-date=2011-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606012536/http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php#Falconiformes |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the other hand, the Check-list of South American Birds classifies all caracaras as true falcons and puts the laughing falcon and forest falcons into the subfamily Herpetotherinae.<ref name=SACC200908>{{cite web|url=http://www.aou.org/checklist/south.php |title=A classification of the bird species of South America |work=South American Classification Committee |publisher=American Ornithologists' Union |access-date=2009-08-15|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801201409/http://www.aou.org/checklist/south.php |archive-date=August 1, 2009 }}</ref>

Falconinae, in its traditional classification, contains the falcons, falconets, and [[Polihierax|pygmy falcons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Falconinae.html |first=P. R. |last=Myers |author2=C. S. Parr |author3=T. Jones |author4=G. S. Hammond |author5= T. A. Dewey |title=Subfamily Falconinae (falcons) |work=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=2009-08-17}}</ref> Depending on the authority, Falconinae may also include the caracaras and/or the laughing falcon.<ref name=SACC200908 /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php#Falconiformes |title=Check-list of North American Birds |work=North American Classification Committee |publisher=American Ornithologists' Union |access-date=2009-08-17 |archive-date=2011-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606012536/http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php#Falconiformes |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Phylogeny===
The following cladogram is based on a comprehensive [[molecular phylogenetic]] study of the Falconidae by Jérôme Fuchs and collaborators that was published in 2015. The number of species is taken from the list of birds maintained by [[Frank Gill (ornithologist)|Frank Gill]], [[Pamela Rasmussen]] and David Donsker on behalf of the [[International Ornithological Committee]] (IOC).<ref name=fuchs2015>{{Cite journal | last1=Fuchs | first1=J. | last2=Johnson | first2=J.A. | last3=Mindell | first3=D.P. | date=2015 | title=Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the Late Miocene | journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume=82 | pages=166–182 | doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2014.08.010| pmid=25256056 }}</ref><ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2023 | title=Seriemas, falcons | work=IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/falcons/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | accessdate=4 February 2023 }}</ref> Fuchs and collaborators recommended that the genus ''Daptrius'' should be expanded to include the genera ''Phalcoboenus'' and ''Milvago'' due to the shallow genetic divergence. This change has been adopted by the [[The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World|Clements Checklist]] but not by the IOC.<ref name=ioc/><ref name=fuchs2015/><ref>{{ cite web | last1=Clements | first1=J.F. | last2=Schulenberg | first2=T.S. | last3=Iliff | first3=M.J. | last4=Fredericks | first4=T.A. | last5=Gerbracht | first5=J.A. | last6=Lepage | first6=D. | last7=Billerman | first7=S.M. | last8=Sullivan | first8=B.L. | last9=Wood | first9=C.L. | year=2022 | title=The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2022 | url=http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ | access-date=4 February 2023 }}</ref>

{{clade| style=font-size:90%;line-height:90%
|label1='''Falconidae'''
|1={{Clade
|label1=Herpetotherinae
|1={{Clade
|1=''[[Herpetotheres]]'' – laughing falcon
|2=''[[Micrastur]]'' – 7 species (forest falcons)
}}
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|label1=Falconinae
|1={{Clade
|1={{clade
|1=''[[Polihierax]]'' – pygmy falcon
|2=''[[Microhierax]]'' – 5 species (falconets)
}}
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Neohierax]]'' – white-rumped falcon
|2=''[[Falco (bird)|Falco]]'' – 39 species (falcons and kestrels)
}}
}}
|label2=Polyborinae
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Spiziapteryx]]'' – spot-winged falconet
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Caracara (genus)|Caracara]]'' – 2 species (caracaras)
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Ibycter]]'' – red-throated caracara
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Phalcoboenus]]'' – 4 species (caracaras)
|label2=
|2={{Clade
|1=''[[Daptrius]]'' – black caracara
|2=''[[Milvago]]'' – 2 species (caracaras)
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}

===List of genera===
Below is list of the subfamilies and genera of the Falconidae.<ref name=ioc/>

{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! Subfamily
! Image
! Genus
! Species
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| [[Herpetotherinae]]
|[[File:Micrastur mintoni - Cryptic Forest Falcon; Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Forest falcon|Micrastur]]'' {{small|G.R. Gray, 1841}} – forest falcons
|
* [[Barred forest falcon]], ''Micrastur ruficollis''
* [[Plumbeous forest falcon]], ''Micrastur plumbeus''
* [[Lined forest falcon]], ''Micrastur gilvicollis''
* [[Cryptic forest falcon]], ''Micrastur mintoni''
* [[Slaty-backed forest falcon]], ''Micrastur mirandollei''
* [[Collared forest falcon]], ''Micrastur semitorquatus''
* [[Buckley's forest falcon]], ''Micrastur buckleyi''
|-
|[[File:Lachfalke.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Herpetotheres]]'' {{small|Vieillot, 1817}} – laughing falcon
|
* [[Laughing falcon]], ''Herpetotheres cachinnans''
|-
! rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| [[Caracara (subfamily)|Polyborinae]]
|[[File:Spiziapteryx circumcincta Spot-winged Falconet, Chancaní Natural Reserve, Córdoba, Argentina 01.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Spiziapteryx]]'' {{small|Kaup, 1852}}
|
*[[Spot-winged falconet]], ''Spiziapteryx circumcincta''
|-
|[[File:Ave Carcará.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Caracara (genus)|Caracara]]'' {{small|Merrem, 1826}} – crested caracara
|
* [[Crested caracara]], ''Caracara plancus''
|-
|[[File:Red-throated Caracara.jpg|150px]]
| ''[[Ibycter]]'' {{small|Vieillot, 1816}}
|
* [[Red-throated caracara]], ''Ibycter americanus''
|-
|[[File:Gelbkopfkarakara Milvago chimachima.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Milvago]]'' {{small|Spix, 1824}} – brown caracaras
|
* [[Yellow-headed caracara]], ''Milvago chimachima''
* [[Chimango caracara]], ''Milvago chimango''
|-
|[[File:Black Caracara - Chupacacao Negro (Daptrius ater) (14909975447) (cropped).jpg|150px]]
| ''[[Daptrius]]'' {{small|Vieillot, 1816}}
|
*[[Black caracara]], '' Daptrius ater''
|-
|[[File:Mountain Caracara RWD.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Phalcoboenus]]'' {{small|d'Orbigny, 1834}}
|
*[[Carunculated caracara]], ''Phalcoboenus carunculatus''
*[[Mountain caracara]], ''Phalcoboenus megalopterus''
*[[White-throated caracara]], ''Phalcoboenus albogularis''
*[[Striated caracara]], ''Phalcoboenus australis''
|-
! rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| [[Falconinae]]
|[[File:Philippine Falconet - Microhierax erythrogenys.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Microhierax]]'' {{small|Sharpe, 1874}} – typical falconets
|
* [[Collared falconet]], ''Microhierax caerulescens''
* [[Black-thighed falconet]], ''Microhierax fringillarius''
* [[White-fronted falconet]], ''Microhierax latifrons''
* [[Philippine falconet]], ''Microhierax erythrogenys''
* [[Pied falconet]], ''Microhierax melanoleucus''
|-
|[[File:African Pygmy Falcon 002.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Polihierax]]'' {{small|Kaup, 1847}}
|
* [[Pygmy falcon]], ''Polihierax semitorquatus''
|-
|[[File:White-rumped Falcon, Preah Vihéar, Cambodia.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Neohierax]]'' {{small|Swann, 1922}}
|
* [[White-rumped falcon]], ''Neohierax insignis''
|-
|[[File:Common kestrel falco tinnunculus.jpg|150px]]
|''[[Falcon|Falco]]'' {{small|Linnaeus, 1758}} – true falcons, hobbies and kestrels
|
* [[Lesser kestrel]], ''Falco naumanni''
* [[Common kestrel]], ''Falco tinnunculus''
* [[Rock kestrel]], ''Falco rupicolus''
* [[Malagasy kestrel]], ''Falco newtoni''
* [[Mauritius kestrel]], ''Falco punctatus''
* [[Reunion kestrel]], ''Falco duboisi''
* [[Seychelles kestrel]], ''Falco araeus''
* [[Spotted kestrel]], ''Falco moluccensis''
* [[Nankeen kestrel]] or Australian kestrel, ''Falco cenchroides''
* [[American kestrel]] or "sparrow hawk", ''Falco sparverius''
* [[Greater kestrel]], ''Falco rupicoloides''
* [[Fox kestrel]], ''Falco alopex''
* [[Grey kestrel]], ''Falco ardosiaceus''
* [[Dickinson's kestrel]], ''Falco dickinsoni''
* [[Banded kestrel]], ''Falco zoniventris''
* [[Red-necked falcon]], ''Falco chicquera''
* [[Red-footed falcon]], ''Falco vespertinus''
* [[Amur falcon]], ''Falco amurensis''
* [[Eleonora's falcon]], ''Falco eleonorae
* [[Sooty falcon]], ''Falco concolor''
* [[Aplomado falcon]], ''Falco femoralis''
* [[Merlin (bird)|Merlin]] or "pigeon hawk", ''Falco columbarius''
* [[Bat falcon]], ''Falco rufigularis''
* [[Orange-breasted falcon]], ''Falco deiroleucus''
* [[Eurasian hobby]], ''Falco subbuteo''
* [[African hobby]], ''Falco cuvierii''
* [[Oriental hobby]], ''Falco severus''
* [[Australian hobby]] or little falcon, ''Falco longipennis''
* [[New Zealand falcon]] or Ngarangi or kārearea, ''Falco novaeseelandiae''
* [[Brown falcon]], ''Falco berigora''
* [[Grey falcon]], ''Falco hypoleucos''
* [[Black falcon]], ''Falco subniger''
* [[Lanner falcon]], ''Falco biarmicus''
* [[Laggar falcon]], ''Falco jugger''
* [[Saker falcon]], ''Falco cherrug''
* [[Gyrfalcon]], ''Falco rusticolus''
* [[Prairie falcon]], ''Falco mexicanus''
* [[Peregrine falcon]], ''Falco peregrinus''
* [[Taita falcon]], ''Falco fasciinucha''
|-
|}

===Fossil genera===
*''[[Badiostes]]'' (Santa Cruz Early [[Miocene]] of [[Patagonia]], Argentina)
*Falconidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Miocene of [[Chubut Province|Chubut]], Argentina)
*Falconidae gen. et sp. indet. (Pinturas Early/Middle Miocene of Argentina)
*''[[Pediohierax]]'' (Middle Miocene of [[Nebraska]], US) – formerly ''Falco ramenta''
* Falconidae gen. et sp. indet. (Cerro Bandera Late Miocene of [[Neuquén]], Argentina)<ref>[[PVPH]] 465: a [[phalanges|phalanx]] 1 of the middle toe. A caracara? Possibly belongs in extant genus. Kramarz, Alejandro: Garrido, Alberto; Forasiepi, Analía; Bond, Mariano & Tambussi, Claudia (2005): Estratigrafía y vertebrados (Aves y Mammalia) de la Formación Cerro Bandera, Mioceno Temprano de la Provincia del Neuquén, Argentina. ''Revista Geológica de Chile'' '''32'''(2): 273–291. [http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-02082005000200006&lng=es&nrm=iso HTML fulltext]</ref>
*''"Sushkinia" pliocaena'' (Early [[Pliocene]] of [[Pavlodar]], [[Kazakhstan]]) – belongs in ''Falco''?
*''[[Thegornis]]'' (Miocene of South America)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/falcons-caracaras-falconidae Falconidae videos, photos and sounds] on the Internet Bird Collection

{{Taxonbar|from=Q21744}}

[[Category:Falconidae| ]]
[[Category:Bird families]]
[[Category:Birds of prey]]
[[Category:Extant Ypresian first appearances]]

Falconidae - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 20:16, 30 August 2023