Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Barred Forest Falcon
Micrastur ruficollis
Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 178 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Micrastur
- Species ruficollis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 178 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Barred Forest Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Barred Forest Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) is a member of the Falconidae family, within the order Falconiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA s Mexico to n Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 178 g, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 16.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 12.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Barred Forest Falcon?
The Barred Forest Falcon is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 178 g.
Where does the Barred Forest Falcon live?
The Barred Forest Falcon is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA s Mexico to n Argentina, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Barred Forest Falcon belong to?
The Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Barred Forest Falcon eat?
The Barred Forest Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Barred Forest Falcon migrate?
The Barred Forest Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Barred Forest Falcon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Barred Forest Falcon make?
1 real field recording of the Barred Forest Falcon can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Barred Forest Falcon's range?
The Barred Forest Falcon has a mapped global range of about 12.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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