Falconidae

Falcons

Family recognized by
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Falconidae

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Falco peregrinus (Temminck, 1822)
Falco peregrinus (Temminck, 1822)
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
Falco peregrinus

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Table of Contents

General Description

Diversity

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Animal Diversity Web external link
Copyright
©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Kari Kirschbaum, Animal Diversity Web Staff
Editor
Alaine Camfield, Animal Diversity Web
Location
Source URL
View original data object external link
Citation
Kirschbaum, K. 2004. "Falconidae" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 25, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Falconidae.html. 

 

The Falconidae is one of two families within the order Falconiformes. Falconidae contains 11 genera and 64 species, and is divided into two subfamilies, Polyborinae (caracaras and forest-falcons) and Falconinae (true falcons and falconets).

 

Falconids can be found in most terrestrial habitats throughout the world, but the greatest diversity of falconids is found in South America and Africa. All falconids are able hunters that can take a variety of prey, including insects, birds, mammals, herpetiles and carrion. Most falconids are solitary and territorial, though a few species are colonial or semi-colonial. All but one species is monogamous, and pairs breed once per year, raising between one and six chicks. Both the male and female provide parental care, with the male providing the majority of food for the female and nestlings. ("Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)", 2002; "The Howard, Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, and Third Edition", 2003; Kemp and Newton, 2003; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990; Snyder, 2001; White, Olsen, and Kiff, 1994)

 
References
  • 2002. Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae). M. Hutchins, J. Jackson, W. Bock, eds. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Vol. 8, Second Edition. Detroit: Gale Group.
  • White, C., P. Olsen, L. Kiff. 1994. Family Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras). Pp. 216-247 in J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 2. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
  • Snyder, H. 2001. Falcons and Caracaras. Pp. 225-229 in C. Elphick, J. Dunning, D. Sibley, eds. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
  • Sibley, C., J. Ahlquist. 1990. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds; A Study in Molecular Evolution. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  • 2003. E. Dickinson, ed. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, Third Edition. London: Christopher Helm.
  • Kemp, A., I. Newton. 2003. Falcons. Pp. 154-161 in C. Perrins, ed. The New Encyclopedia of Birds. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
"Falconidae". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/8007". Accessed 19 Mar 2010.