Aplomado Falcon

Aplomado Falcon

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Falco femoralis
  • Spanish Name: Halcón aplomado
  • Family: Falconidae
  • Known Nicknames: Orange-chested Falcon, Mexican Aplomado Falcon
  • Average Length: 30–40 cm / 12–16 in
  • Average Weight: 200–300 g / 7–10.5 oz
  • Wingspan: 76–99 cm / 30–39 in
  • Key Feature: Distinctive black 'moustache' and white supercilium; long, barred tail
  • Primary Diet: Carnivore (birds, small mammals, large insects, reptiles)
  • Range: Southwestern United States through Central America to southern South America
  • Habitat: Open savannas, grasslands, arid scrublands, and semi-deserts
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs during breeding
  • Nesting/Breeding: Stick nests in trees, cacti, or on human-made structures (often reuses old nests of other raptors)
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Increasing

The Aplomado Falcon (*Falco femoralis*) is a strikingly elegant raptor of the Americas, renowned for its unique "three-toned" plumage: a dark slate-gray back and head, a creamy white breast, and a bold black band across the belly that contrasts with rust-colored thighs and under-tail coverts. Unlike many falcons that rely on high-speed stoops, this species is a master of low-level, cooperative hunting, often working in pairs to flush and ambush birds and insects from open grasslands and savannas. Its long, pointed wings and exceptionally long, barred tail give it a distinctive, slender silhouette in flight, while its large, dark eyes convey a sharp, intelligent gaze. Once endangered in the United States due to habitat loss, the Aplomado Falcon has become a celebrated conservation success story through dedicated reintroduction programs, making it both a visual marvel and a symbol of ecological resilience.

Fun Facts

The Aplomado Falcon is one of the few raptors known to hunt cooperatively in pairs, often using a "flush and ambush" strategy where one bird flushes prey from cover while the other swoops in for the kill. It has an unusually long, rudder-like tail that provides exceptional maneuverability, allowing it to chase prey through dense brush or even snatch birds mid-air in acrobatic pursuit. Unlike many falcons, it frequently hunts on foot, running down lizards and large insects across open ground. Its name "aplomado" comes from the Spanish word for "lead-colored," referencing its slate-gray upperparts, but its most striking feature is the bold black-and-white facial pattern resembling a bandit mask. This species also exhibits a quirky habit of caching surplus food in tree crevices or grass tufts, returning to eat it hours later.

Habitats & Distribution

The Aplomado Falcon occupies open, semi-arid to arid landscapes, primarily savannas, grasslands, and desert scrub, often near water sources like rivers or marshes. It avoids dense forests and high mountains, favoring areas with scattered trees or cacti for perching and nesting. Its geographical range extends from the southwestern United States (southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) south through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America, including parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It is generally absent from the Amazon Basin’s humid lowlands and higher elevations above roughly 3,000 meters.

Behaviours & Reproduction

Aplomado Falcons are typically monogamous, with pairs often remaining together across multiple breeding seasons within their loosely defined, non-colonial social structure. They do not build their own nests; instead, they commandeer the stick nests of other large birds, such as hawks or ravens, often in open savanna or desert scrub. Their unique reproductive strategy includes a prolonged and energetic courtship, involving high-speed aerial chases, food passes, and synchronized dives, which reinforces the pair bond. The female typically lays 2-4 eggs, and while she primarily incubates, the male hunts and delivers food to the nest, a cooperative dynamic that continues after the chicks hatch.

Diet

The Aplomado Falcon is an agile and opportunistic predator whose diet consists almost entirely of other birds and large insects, with small mammals and reptiles taken less frequently. It hunts primarily in flight, using remarkable speed and maneuverability to capture doves, grackles, meadowlarks, and sparrows mid-air, but it also frequently preys on dragonflies, grasshoppers, and beetles, often catching them on the wing or snatching them from vegetation. A particularly interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its tendency to hunt cooperatively in pairs, especially during the breeding season, where one falcon will flush prey from cover while the other ambushes it. Additionally, the Aplomado Falcon is known to steal food from other raptors, such as kestrels and harriers, by aggressively chasing them until they drop their catch.

Colors

The Aplomado Falcon is a sleek, slender raptor with a striking pied pattern: dark slate-gray upperparts contrast with a pale buff to white chest and throat, a bold black band across the belly, and rufous-brown flanks and thighs. Its long tail is barred black and white, and the face has a distinctive white supercilium above a dark eye stripe, with a white cheek patch. This coloration provides camouflage against the open grasslands and savannas it inhabits, breaking up its silhouette in flight and blending with dappled light.

Frequently Asked Questions