Cryptic Forest-Falcon
Micrastur mintoni
Beautiful forest-falcon, typically very difficult to see. Has a gray head and back, bare red facial skin, and white underparts with gray bars on the breast. Note the single broad white bar on the upper tail. Found in dense humid forest. Has a distinctive song, usually given at dawn, typically a slow series of single low-pitched “uk uk uk uk....” notes. Can be confused with Barred Forest-Falcon, but adult Barred Forest-Falcons have bare yellow facial skin and heavily barred underparts with three narrow white tail bars.
识别特征
The cryptic forest falcon is a rarely spotted bird of prey. When spotted, it is often confused for its congeners, the barred forest falcon, the lined forest falcon, and the plumbeous forest falcon. While it differs slightly from its congeners in its physical characteristics, it is best recognized by its distinctive vocalizations. Its height is 30-35 centimeters, and its weight is 170-264 grams for females (171-238 grams for males). Its plumage is grey (often darker on head), with a blackish upper wing and rump. Its bare red facial skin and single broad white tail bar distinguish it from the barred forest falcon. Immature individuals have two narrower white tail bands. Sometimes, an additional tail band is present, and is covered by the bird's upper tail coverts. With a wing:tail ratio of 1:36, its short tail further distinguishes it from the lined forest falcon. Its chin, central throat, and underparts are white. Its breast is white, with fine dark grey bars (generally bolder in females). These bars are more defined near the birds lower throat/upper breast. This barring is greatly reduced on immature individuals. It has a black beak, with an orange base, and greyish iris. Sometimes a diagonal line across its cheek is present in immature individuals. Its legs are orange, with blackish claws.<p>M. mintoni is lightly sexually dimorphic, with females having a slightly higher weight range, and bolder ventral barring.
分类信息
The cryptic forest falcon is a member of the family Falconidae, which includes falcons and caracaras. It is a member of the genus Micrastur, which encompasses all forest-falcons. It is a monotypic species. Specimens were historically labeled as lined forest falcons until the cryptic forest falcon was recognized as a distinct species in 2002. While it closely resembles its congeners, it can be distinguished by its distinctive vocalizations, as well as slight morphological difference.
- 学名
- Micrastur mintoni
- 命名信息
- Whittaker, 2003
- 目
- Falconiformes
- 科
- Falconidae
- 属
- Micrastur
分布与栖息地
The cryptic forest falcon primarily inhabits the Lowland terra firme forests of South America. A habitat characterized by its tall trees and dense, diverse understory. It also frequents the Várzea forest, a seasonally flooded forest with a bamboo understory. A population also exists in the Atlantic Rainforest of eastern South America.<p>This species has a wide distribution throughout South America, and is believed to occur over 19,300,000 km². There are two known populations of the cryptic forest falcon, the first of which is throughout southeastern Amazonia, from north-east Bolivia to Para, Brazil.<p>A disjunct population, thought to be potentially extinct until its rediscovery in 2012 exists in the Atlantic Rainforest of eastern South America. The status of this population is not currently known, and is likely critical.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
The cryptic forest falcon is most recognizable for its vocalizations, primarily its distinctive song. This song consists of a series of "uk uk uk uk" notes, at one note per second. This song usually lasts for 1-1.5 minutes. This song is used to alert others of its territory. In addition to its song, the forest-falcon has two calls. The first of which, is its cackling call. This call is a series of short "ca ca ca ca-ca-ca notes, with the last three notes closer together, and dropping in pitch throughout. Its quacking call is least often heard, and consists of loud "uuk, qui, qua-qua" notes. The cryptic forest falcon is typically heard at dawn. However occasionally it can be heard later in the morning during dry season. It is less often heard just before dusk.<p>The cryptic forest falcon is believed to be a generalist. It is known to prey on reptiles and invertebrates. It is also believed to prey on small birds, as one individual emerged to a recording of the rufous-necked puffbird.<p>While little information is known about its hunting strategy, it is believed to be similar to that of its congeners; watching from low perches in the understory, emerging to seize prey.<p>Very little information is known about the cryptic forest falcon's breeding behavior. It is believed to nest in the wet season (December–May), as it molts remiges from April–August. This is also supported by possible damage from a nesting cavity in a female specimen collected in early June. It is presumed to breed in cavities as do other forest-falcons. M. mintoni has a generation length of 8.6 years.<p>The density of this species is believed to be similar to that of the lined forest falcon, at 1 pair per 20–67 hectares. However, densities as high as 3–4 pairs per kilometer have been reported at dawn during the dry season.<p>The cryptic forest falcon is believed to be sedentary. It is not migratory.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Black-throated Coucal
Centropus leucogaster
A large forest coucal with a black throat and chest and a white belly. Western populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and extreme western Uganda are sometimes separated as Neumann’s Coucal based on their smaller size, but look very similar to eastern Black-throated Coucal populations. The similar Gabon Coucal, which has a rufous belly, replaces Black-throated in Central African forests. Black-throated typically gives a deep, bubbling, booming call series of up to 20 notes that fall and then rise in pitch. This call can be heard day or night.
Sumba Eclectus
Eclectus cornelia
Robust, big-headed, and rather short-tailed parrot endemic to Sumba, where it inhabits remnant lowland and foothill forests. Male bright green with red underwings and orange bill, female bright red with dark bill. Usually seen flying above forests at first light, squawking loudly. Calls include an ear-shattering, high-pitched squawk, as well as a lower, rasping caw. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Eclectus Parrot.”
Abyssinian Roller
Coracias abyssinicus
A slim and beautiful roller with very long outer tail feathers. In flight, the spectacular wings are half pale blue and half dark blue. Found in dry savanna and other open country. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Easily separated from Lilac-breasted Roller by the blue throat. Occasionally lacks elongated outer tail feathers, and then very similar to European Roller, but separated by the dark blue rather than black outer wing. The calls are rough rasps.
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