Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Laughing Falcon
Herpetotheres cachinnans
Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) — 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 Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 624 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 Herpetotheres
- Species cachinnans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 624 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Laughing Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Laughing Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is a species of bird in the Falconidae family, part of the order Falconiformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Mexico to n Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 624 g, with a wing length of about 27.2 cm and a tail of around 21.9 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 13.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Laughing Falcon?
The Laughing Falcon is a large bird that weighs around 624 g.
Where does the Laughing Falcon live?
The Laughing Falcon is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Mexico to n Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Laughing Falcon belong to?
The Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Laughing Falcon eat?
The Laughing Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Laughing Falcon migrate?
The Laughing Falcon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Laughing 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 Laughing Falcon make?
1 real field recording of the Laughing Falcon — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Laughing Falcon's range?
The Laughing Falcon has a mapped global range of about 13.3 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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