Falconidae
Sign in to saveThe falcons and caracaras are around 65 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order Falconiformes). The family likely originated in South America during the Paleocene and is divided into three subfamilies: Herpetotherinae, which includes the laughing falcon and forest falcons; Polyborinae, which includes the spot-winged falconet and the caracaras; and Falconinae, the falcons and kestrels (Falco) and falconets (Microhierax).
AI overview
Falconidae is a family of about 65 species of hunting birds that are active during the day, including falcons, kestrels, caracaras, and forest falcons. This group matters because it represents the entire modern order of falcon-like birds of prey, which originated in South America and are now divided into three distinct subfamilies with different characteristics and hunting styles.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderFalconiformes
- FamilyFalconidae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Falconiformes
- Image
- Brown-Falcon,-Vic,-3.1.2008.jpg
Show 5 more facts
- P105
- family
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour
- Diet and feeding
- Breeding
- Relations with humans
- Taxonomy and systematics
- Phylogeny
- List of genera
- Fossil genera
- References
- External links
The falcons and caracaras are around 65 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order Falconiformes). The family likely originated in South America during the Paleocene and is divided into three subfamilies: Herpetotherinae, which includes the laughing falcon and forest falcons; Polyborinae, which includes the spot-winged falconet and the caracaras; and Falconinae, the falcons and kestrels (Falco) and falconets (Microhierax).
==Description== Falcons and caracaras are small to medium-sized birds of prey, ranging in size from the black-thighed falconet, which can weigh as little as , to the gyrfalcon, which can weigh as much as . They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The plumage is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey, often with barring of patterning. There is little difference in the plumage of males and females, although a few species have some sexual dimorphism in boldness of plumage.