Photo: Joao Quental / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Birds of Prey

Bat Falcon

Falco rufigularis

Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Brazil Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Mexico Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of Texas

By family

Falcons of Argentina Falcons of Brazil Falcons of Colombia Falcons of Costa Rica Falcons of Ecuador Falcons of Mexico Falcons of Peru Falcons of the United States Falcons of Texas

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The Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 164 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
Genus Falco
Species rufigularis

Where it lives

Northern Mexico to northeastern Argentina

Quick facts

Weight: 164 g
Diet: Vertebrate hunters
Family: Falconidae
Order: Falconiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Bat Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Bat Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) 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 n Mexico to ne Argentina.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 164 g, with a wing length of about 19.9 cm and a tail of around 10.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 13.4 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Bat Falcon — Call

Recorded by Marcos E. Sosa Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Bat Falcon?

The Bat Falcon is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 164 g.

Where does the Bat Falcon live?

The Bat Falcon is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA n Mexico to ne Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Bat Falcon belong to?

The Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.

What does the Bat Falcon eat?

The Bat Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Does the Bat Falcon migrate?

The Bat Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Bat 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 Bat Falcon make?

1 real field recording of the Bat Falcon — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Bat Falcon's range?

The Bat Falcon has a mapped global range of about 13.4 million km².