- Falco sparverius
Identification
9-12" (23-30 cm). W. 21" (53 cm)
A jay-sized falcon, often seen hovering. Recognizable in all plumages by rusty tail and back.
Adult male has slate-blue wings but black-spotted rusty mantle and scapulars, which dominate the view from the back when perched.
Female has rusty wings and back, narrow bands on tail.
Both sexes have 2 black stripes on face.
Variation
In the Caribbean, both very dark and very pale forms occur.
Distribution
North America: widespread and very common, found from Alaska and Canada east to Nova Scotia and south to Mexico.
Central America and South America: found in most appropriate habitats south to Patagonia.
Caribbean: found almost everywhere except where it is or recently has been persecuted.
Northern populations are migratory, moving as far south as Panama.
Taxonomy
About 16 races are recognised:
- nominate race occurs in much of North America
- paulus in the south-eastern United States
- peninsularis in Baja California and western Mexico
- tropicalis in southern Mexico, Guatemala and northern Honduras
- nicaraguensis in north-west Honduras and Nicaragua
- ochraceus in eastern Colombia and north-west Venezuela
- isabellinus in the Guianas and east Venezuela
- aequatorialis in north-west Colombia and north Ecuador
- peruvianus in south-west Ecuador, Peru and north Chile
- cinnamominus from south-east Peru to Tierra del Fuego
- fernandensis on Masatierra and Juan Fernandez Islands
- cearae in southern Brazil.
- sparverioides occurs in the southern Bahamas and Cuba
- dominicensis in Hispaniola
- caribaearum in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles
- brevipennis in the Dutch Antilles.
Habitat
Open forest and woodland, semi-desert, plains, grassland and cultivated land with scattered trees. In some areas a common urban bird.
Behaviour
Vocalisation
Shrill killy-killy-killy
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