
Forest-Falcons
Micrastur
Forest falcons are members of the genus Micrastur, part of the family Falconidae. They are endemic to the Americas, found from Mexico in the north, south through Central America and large parts of South America, and as far south as northern Argentina. Most are restricted to humid tropical and subtropical forests, but the two most widespread species, the collared and the barred forest falcon, also range into drier and more open habitats.
Forest falcons, like most Accipiter-type hawks (but unlike other falcons), are adapted for agility in thick cover rather than outright speed in the open air. They have short wings, long tails, and extraordinarily acute hearing. While generally visually inconspicuous, their songs are commonly heard.
7 branches of this genus, most-observed first · about 7 known species

Collared Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur semitorquatus

Barred Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur ruficollis

Lined Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur gilvicollis

Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur mirandollei

Cryptic Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur mintoni

Buckley's Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur buckleyi

Plumbeous Forest-Falcon
speciesMicrastur plumbeus
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
Drag the globe to turn it. Dots are where records exist, not a range map; darker means more records.
In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Micrastur in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 4693.