Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)

Barred Forest-falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) - HBW 2, p. 253

French: Carnifex barré German: Sperberwaldfalke Spanish: Halcón montés Agavilanado

Taxonomy: Sparvius ruficollis Vieillot, 1817, South America = Rio de Janeiro.
Distinctive genus specialized for life in dense forest: long tail and short wings for manoeuvrability; large ear openings and facial ruff indicate importance of hunting by sound. Most closely related to Herpetotheres. Until recently considered to include M. gilvicollis, but voice and morphology support specific status for M. gilvicollis, which is widely sympatric with present species. Possible races oaxacae and kalinowskii currently included in races guerilla and zonothorax respectively. Six subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

guerilla Cassin, 1848 - S Mexico to Nicaragua.
interstes Bangs, 1907 - Costa Rica and Panama to W Colombia and W Ecuador.
zonothorax (Cabanis, 1865) - Colombia and Venezuela, in E Andean foothills, S perhaps to Bolivia.

See all 6 subspecies

guerilla Cassin, 1848 - S Mexico to Nicaragua.
interstes Bangs, 1907 - Costa Rica and Panama to W Colombia and W Ecuador.
zonothorax (Cabanis, 1865) - Colombia and Venezuela, in E Andean foothills, S perhaps to Bolivia.
concentricus (Lesson, 1830) - S Venezuela, the Guianas and Amazonia.
ruficollis (Vieillot, 1817) - S of Amazonia in Brazil, Paraguay and NC & NE Argentina.
olrogi Amadon, 1964 - NW Argentina, in subtropical forests.