General Overview
The Falconidae family comprises about 65 species of diurnal birds of prey, including true falcons, kestrels, and caracaras, with a worldwide distribution except for Antarctica. Falcons are known for their incredible speed, agility, and precision in hunting, while caracaras are generally slower, more opportunistic scavengers. Unlike Accipitridae (hawks and eagles), falcons kill their prey primarily with their beaks rather than their talons. They are important apex or mesopredators in many ecosystems, controlling populations of birds, mammals, and insects.
Appearance
Falconids vary in size from small kestrels, around 20 cm in length, to large gyrfalcons exceeding 60 cm. They generally have long, pointed wings and narrow tails, adaptations that enable rapid flight and maneuverability. Their beaks are short, hooked, and equipped with a “tomial tooth” for quickly severing the spinal cords of prey. Plumage patterns are diverse, ranging from plain gray or brown to strikingly barred or spotted, often providing camouflage or signaling to conspecifics. Caracaras tend to have longer legs and less streamlined bodies than true falcons.
Diet
Falconids are carnivorous, feeding primarily on birds, small mammals, insects, and occasionally reptiles. True falcons are aerial hunters, capturing prey in flight or striking from high perches, while caracaras are opportunistic, feeding on carrion, eggs, and small vertebrates. Hunting strategies emphasize speed, agility, and surprise rather than brute strength. Falcons often kill with a bite to the neck, while caracaras may use their strong feet and beaks to tear apart prey.
Habitat
Falconidae occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, grasslands, tundra, forests, mountains, and urban environments. Some species, like the peregrine falcon, are highly cosmopolitan and thrive in cities where they hunt pigeons and other birds, while others have more restricted ranges tied to specific ecosystems. Nesting sites vary: cliff ledges, tall trees, abandoned nests of other birds, or even artificial structures.
Behavior
Falconids are generally solitary or form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Courtship often involves spectacular aerial displays and mutual feeding. Most species are territorial, defending nesting and hunting areas vigorously. They lay small clutches of eggs, with both parents involved in incubation and feeding. Falcons are famous for their incredible diving speed; peregrine falcons can exceed 320 km/h during stoops. Caracaras, in contrast, are more terrestrial and social, sometimes forming groups at carrion or communal roosts. Vocalizations vary widely, with falcons producing shrill calls and caracaras a range of croaks and screams.
