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Photo by kegressy

Falco sparverius

[edit] Identification

9-12" (23-30 cm). W. 21" (53 cm)
A jay-sized falcon, often seen hovering. Recognizable in all plumages by rusty tail and back.
Adult male has slate-blue wings but black-spotted rusty mantle and scapulars, which dominate the view from the back when perched.
Female has rusty wings and back, narrow bands on tail.
Both sexes have 2 black stripes on face.

[edit] Distribution

Widespread and very common in North America, found from Alaska and Canada south to Mexico and from there south to Patagonia.
On the east coast occurs north to Nova Scotia.
Northern populations are migratory, moving as far south as Panama.

Juvenile
Photo by Higheagle
North California, June 2009

[edit] Taxonomy

About 16 races are recognised:

• nominate race occurs in much of North America
• paulus in the south-eastern United States
• peninsularis in Baja California and western Mexico
• tropicalis in southern Mexico, Guatemala and northern Honduras
• nicaraguensis in north-west Honduras and Nicaragua
• ochraceus in eastern Colombia and north-west Venezuela
• isabellinus in the Guianas and east Venezuela
• aequatorialis in north-west Colombia and north Ecuador
• peruvianus in south-west Ecuador, Peru and north Chile
• cinnamominus from south-east Peru to Tierra del Fuego
• fernandensis on Masatierra and Juan Fernandez Islands
• cearae in southern Brazil.
• sparverioides occurs in the southern Bahamas and Cuba
• dominicensis in Hispaniola
• caribaearum in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Lesser Antilles
• brevipennis in the Dutch Antilles.

Photo by matphotocards
New Jersey, February 2008

[edit] Habitat

Open forest and woodland, semi-desert, plains, grassland and cultivated land with scattered trees. In some areas a common urban bird.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Vocalisation

Shrill killy-killy-killy

[edit] External Links