Post by OldGreenVulture on Sept 27, 2019 11:32:46 GMT
Laughing Falcon - Herpetotheres cachinnans.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Herpetotheres
Species: Herpetotheres cachinnans
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Members of the genus Herpetotheres are medium-sized, large-headed falcons; having rather short, rounded wings and a long strongly rounded tail. The bill is stout and not toothed. The legs are rather short and, with the toes, covered with small, rough, hexagonal scales - an adaptation to withstand the bites of poisonous snakes. The feathers of the crown are narrow, stiff and pointed, forming a bushy crest which is set off by a collar.
This genus also has some anatomical peculiarities and is placed in a sub-family of its own.
Herpetotheres resembles the Micrastur forest falcons sufficiently to suggest a distant relationship - cf. the Barred Forest Falcon and the Collared Forest Falcon.
There is just one species, which lives in the tropics of the New World.
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Range
The Laughing Falcon is found in tropical lowlands from Mexico south to eastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
Description
In the adult, the head is buff, the shade varying by individual and with the extent of feather wear. A broad black mask extends around the back of the neck as a narrow, white bordered collar. The crown has conspicuous black shaft-streaks. The back of the wings and the tail are very dark brown; the upper-tail coverts white or buff; the tail itself narrowly barred black and white, with white tips. Most of the under parts are buff, becoming almost pale rufous on under-wing, including the base of the primaries. The ends of the primaries are barred with paler grey. Some dark spotting on under-wing coverts and thighs is not unusual. The eyes are dark brown. The bill is black; the cere and feet are straw-colour.
In immature plumage the bird is similar to the adult, except that the back is dark brown; the feathers being broadly margined with pale brown. The light areas of the plumage are white, rather than buff. The colours of the soft parts are paler than in the adult.
Downy chicks are immaculate light brownish buff, becoming darker on the back. The blackish mask and collar of the adult are already apparent. The down is exceptionally soft and dense for a hawk; more like that of a duckling.
Diet
Almost entirely reptiles; mainly snakes,including venomous coral snakes, but also lizards. Centipedes and small rodents are occasionally taken.
Voice
The voice has been described as a slowly descending series of notes that begins rather sweetly and ends sadly: 'ha-ha-ha har-her-her', or 'haww harr herrer', or a slightly mad, short 'hahahahahaha'. This call is only rarely heard, mostly when the bird is disturbed. The more usual voice is a two-noted call which gives rise to its Costa Rican name, 'guaco'. This call, can be heard most often after sunset, usually at deep twilight. It begins with a number of 'gwa's every half second or so, that gradually increase in intensity and become after a while a tirelessly repeated 'gwa co'. The two syllables are equal in length and are equally emphatic, but the 'gwa' is higher pitched than the 'co'. This call is loud and can be heard from some considerable distance - the 'gwa-co' may be repeated fifty times or more. Sometimes it begins with a differently sounding 'oo oo-oo cow-cow-cow' or with a 'gwa' going down the scale then levelling out. The body of the call sometimes consists entirely of 'gwa's instead of 'gwa-co's.
The call is smooth and full, a far cry from the scream, whistle, or any other sound usually associated with a hawk. Very often two birds call together, in different rhythms and with slight differences in pitch. The gradually changing, off beat doubling of the notes creates an odd sensation of mounting excitement. (from The Birds of Costa Rica, Slud. P, 1964)
Status and behaviour in the wild
The big white head with broad, black facial mask are unmistakable.
In humid areas it is common, in dry forested regions it is less common. It is more abundant in wooded regions than in unforested ones with scattered trees. It is most likely to be seen in semi-open situations, perched at varying heights above the ground, either on a bare branch or partly hidden in foliage. It may occur also in openings in woodland, but seldom in unbroken forest.
It is a sluggish bird, not hostile to others. It often remains on the same perch for long periods, seldom flying and rarely soaring. From time to time it looks to the ground, or nods the head or jerks the tail. It shifts position slowly, perhaps sliding along the branch with little steps. Flight is slow and consists of rapid flaps alternating with level glides. On perching it jerks the narrow tail up and down in the manner of a Wagtail.
When hunting it sits bolt upright looking at the ground, sometimes turning its neck through 180 degrees like an owl. It pounces on a snake with great force, hitting the ground with an audible thud. It holds the snake just behind the head in its bill, often biting off the head. A small snake may be carried in the bill; a large one in the feet parallel to its body, like an Osprey carrying a fish. It proceeds to a branch to feed. Small snakes are swallowed tail first; large ones picked to pieces.
Breeding behaviour
The Laughing Falcon makes little or no attempt at building a nest. It sometimes lays its eggs in an old nest of a buteo or caracara. Usually it nests in cavities in trees where the top has snapped off, or in a hole where a limb has broken off. Only one egg is laid in the first half of April. It is whitish or pale buff, very heavily marked with chocolate brown and in colour are very similar to some eggs of the Caracara.
From Carnivora
carnivora.net/laughing-falcon-herpetotheres-cachinnans-t2288.html#p4815
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Herpetotheres
Species: Herpetotheres cachinnans
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members of the genus Herpetotheres are medium-sized, large-headed falcons; having rather short, rounded wings and a long strongly rounded tail. The bill is stout and not toothed. The legs are rather short and, with the toes, covered with small, rough, hexagonal scales - an adaptation to withstand the bites of poisonous snakes. The feathers of the crown are narrow, stiff and pointed, forming a bushy crest which is set off by a collar.
This genus also has some anatomical peculiarities and is placed in a sub-family of its own.
Herpetotheres resembles the Micrastur forest falcons sufficiently to suggest a distant relationship - cf. the Barred Forest Falcon and the Collared Forest Falcon.
There is just one species, which lives in the tropics of the New World.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range
The Laughing Falcon is found in tropical lowlands from Mexico south to eastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
Description
In the adult, the head is buff, the shade varying by individual and with the extent of feather wear. A broad black mask extends around the back of the neck as a narrow, white bordered collar. The crown has conspicuous black shaft-streaks. The back of the wings and the tail are very dark brown; the upper-tail coverts white or buff; the tail itself narrowly barred black and white, with white tips. Most of the under parts are buff, becoming almost pale rufous on under-wing, including the base of the primaries. The ends of the primaries are barred with paler grey. Some dark spotting on under-wing coverts and thighs is not unusual. The eyes are dark brown. The bill is black; the cere and feet are straw-colour.
In immature plumage the bird is similar to the adult, except that the back is dark brown; the feathers being broadly margined with pale brown. The light areas of the plumage are white, rather than buff. The colours of the soft parts are paler than in the adult.
Downy chicks are immaculate light brownish buff, becoming darker on the back. The blackish mask and collar of the adult are already apparent. The down is exceptionally soft and dense for a hawk; more like that of a duckling.
Diet
Almost entirely reptiles; mainly snakes,including venomous coral snakes, but also lizards. Centipedes and small rodents are occasionally taken.
Voice
The voice has been described as a slowly descending series of notes that begins rather sweetly and ends sadly: 'ha-ha-ha har-her-her', or 'haww harr herrer', or a slightly mad, short 'hahahahahaha'. This call is only rarely heard, mostly when the bird is disturbed. The more usual voice is a two-noted call which gives rise to its Costa Rican name, 'guaco'. This call, can be heard most often after sunset, usually at deep twilight. It begins with a number of 'gwa's every half second or so, that gradually increase in intensity and become after a while a tirelessly repeated 'gwa co'. The two syllables are equal in length and are equally emphatic, but the 'gwa' is higher pitched than the 'co'. This call is loud and can be heard from some considerable distance - the 'gwa-co' may be repeated fifty times or more. Sometimes it begins with a differently sounding 'oo oo-oo cow-cow-cow' or with a 'gwa' going down the scale then levelling out. The body of the call sometimes consists entirely of 'gwa's instead of 'gwa-co's.
The call is smooth and full, a far cry from the scream, whistle, or any other sound usually associated with a hawk. Very often two birds call together, in different rhythms and with slight differences in pitch. The gradually changing, off beat doubling of the notes creates an odd sensation of mounting excitement. (from The Birds of Costa Rica, Slud. P, 1964)
Status and behaviour in the wild
The big white head with broad, black facial mask are unmistakable.
In humid areas it is common, in dry forested regions it is less common. It is more abundant in wooded regions than in unforested ones with scattered trees. It is most likely to be seen in semi-open situations, perched at varying heights above the ground, either on a bare branch or partly hidden in foliage. It may occur also in openings in woodland, but seldom in unbroken forest.
It is a sluggish bird, not hostile to others. It often remains on the same perch for long periods, seldom flying and rarely soaring. From time to time it looks to the ground, or nods the head or jerks the tail. It shifts position slowly, perhaps sliding along the branch with little steps. Flight is slow and consists of rapid flaps alternating with level glides. On perching it jerks the narrow tail up and down in the manner of a Wagtail.
When hunting it sits bolt upright looking at the ground, sometimes turning its neck through 180 degrees like an owl. It pounces on a snake with great force, hitting the ground with an audible thud. It holds the snake just behind the head in its bill, often biting off the head. A small snake may be carried in the bill; a large one in the feet parallel to its body, like an Osprey carrying a fish. It proceeds to a branch to feed. Small snakes are swallowed tail first; large ones picked to pieces.
Breeding behaviour
The Laughing Falcon makes little or no attempt at building a nest. It sometimes lays its eggs in an old nest of a buteo or caracara. Usually it nests in cavities in trees where the top has snapped off, or in a hole where a limb has broken off. Only one egg is laid in the first half of April. It is whitish or pale buff, very heavily marked with chocolate brown and in colour are very similar to some eggs of the Caracara.
From Carnivora
carnivora.net/laughing-falcon-herpetotheres-cachinnans-t2288.html#p4815