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Bat Falcon? - North West Argentina (1 Viewer)

Mark Harper

Mark Harper

World Birder
I took these photos several years ago in Salta, NW Argentina, at the time I put it down as a Bat Falcon. Since then several times I have wondered whether it could be an Orange-breasted Falcon, as I haven't seen any photos of Bat Falcon where the orange on the breast is such a deep colour and as extensive.

Having recently seen a Bat Falcon in Ecuador, showing little or no orange on the breast, I thought I would dig these pictures out and see if someone could give me an ID one way or the other.

Thanks Mark
 

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I'm no expert.

It seems to be a little bulky for Bat Falcon, but guess that is subjective.

The undertail coverts seem to be barred which is more usual in Orange-breasted (though juvenile Bat can be too) and the undertail itself is barred white, suggesting Orange-breasted and not Bat Falcon.

I believe some Bat Falcon subspecies can show orange on the upper breast and also show that more barred black and white lower breast, as on your bird. Orange-breasted tend to show some black streaking on the orange upper breast, but your bird doesn't, and less extensive white on the lower breast, it being rather streaked orange and black.

What habitat was it in?

Sean

Hiroshima
 
lostinjapan said:
What habitat was it in?
Click to expand...

It was taken in the hotel grounds with scattered trees, which was on the edge of Salta, although there was forest nearby. It seemed such an unlikely area for a bird a as scarce as Orange-breasted Falcon, which is one of the reasons I put it down as Bat Falcon at the time.
 
Mark Harper said:
It seemed such an unlikely area for a bird a as scarce as Orange-breasted Falcon.
Click to expand...

Habitat might not have favoured this rarity, but that's what it is. The throat/chest of the Bat Falcon range from almost white to rich orange-rufous (to some extend depending on race), but they *never* show a whitish throat that contrasts strongly with a rich orange-rufous chest. For people without extensive experiance in falcons (i.e. less likely to get jizz & size right) I consider the strong contrat between the whitish throat and the rich orange-rufous chest to be the single best feature for the Orange-breasted.
 
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Hi Mark

I happen to have a pic of a Bat Falcon in a very similar pose to your O-b Falcon. It not only illustrates what Rasmus is talking about but also provides a good comparison of the structure. Hey, you've seen both so you know, but I thought you might like to see all the same.
 

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... and here's a photo showing the opposite extreme in chest/throat colour in the Bat Falcon:

http://www.pbase.com/image/74428882

Some field guides give the impression of chest-colour alone being useful for separating the two species, but as evident from above photo that is not correct. The Bat Falcon can also show a whitish throat and a more orange-buff chest, but never with the strong contrast found between the two clearly demarcated sections in the Orange-chested.
 
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Some thing else that suggests Orange-breasted Falcon is the rufous in the barring on the breast. Overall, the markings on the breast and underparts of Orange-breasted seem to not be as "neat" as those found on Bat Falcon; something that this bird also demonstrates. There also appears to be a bit of spotting on the upper breast and underparts as well.
 
Rasmus Boegh said:
... and here's a photo showing the opposite extreme in chest/throat colour in the Bat Falcon:
Click to expand...

Hi Rasmus

That's a radical difference. Do you happen to know if it is a geographical difference or individual variation? I've only ever seen the species in the one place (Mosquitia, Honduras) and they all looked like the one I posted.

Thanks

John
 
jdj said:
Do you happen to know if it is a geographical difference or individual variation?
Click to expand...

Yes, as noted in an earlier post there are racial variations involved, but it is also age-dependent (ad. Bat tend to have paler chest & throat than imm.). However, a few adults are almost as strongly coloured as the "typical" immature and there are a lot of variations in the throat/chest colour at the individual level in all races. Anyway, as we've taken it this far and I've just noticed a link to this thread has been placed in the OPUS, we can just as well include imm. Orange-breasted. It doesn't have a strong contrast between the chest & throat as in the ad, but is still easily ID'ed by the black-marked chest & thighs:

http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic32-47-2.html
http://webserv.nhl.nl/~ribot/jpg17/fade2_fc.jpg

Note also the massive legs.
 
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