Slaty-backed Forest Falcon
Micrastur mirandollei
Silhouette: Unknown (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
- FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
- GenusMicrastur (Forest-Falcons)
- SpeciesMicrastur mirandollei (Slaty-backed Forest Falcon)
About the Slaty-backed Forest Falcon
The slaty-backed forest falcon (Micrastur mirandollei) is a species of bird of prey in subfamily Herpetotherinae of family Falconidae, the falcons, and caracaras. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, and every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The slaty-backed, collared, and Buckley's forest falcons are sister species. The slaty-backed forest falcon is monotypic. The population in Central America and western Colombia and Ecuador, has at times been treated as the subspecies M. m. extimus, but this separation has not been widely recognized.
The slaty-backed forest falcon is 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 in) long. Males weigh about 420 g (15 oz) and females about 500 to 556 g (18 to 20 oz). Its wingspan is 65 to 71 cm (26 to 28 in). Adults have slate gray upperparts, and are darker on the crown and lighter on the cheeks. Their throats and underparts are white to cream, and plain but for a few dark feather shafts making streaks. Their tail is dark slate gray with a white tip and three narrow white bars that often are indistinct. Their iris is yellowish brown to dark brown, its cere greenish yellow, and... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Darién National Park
Collared Forest Falcon
Micrastur semitorquatus
Barred Forest Falcon
Micrastur ruficollis
Red-throated Caracara
Ibycter americanus
Laughing Falcon
Herpetotheres cachinnans
Bat Falcon
Falco rufigularis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Crested Caracara
Caracara plancus
Aplomado Falcon
Falco femoralis
Orange-breasted Falcon
Falco deiroleucus
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Cahuita National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 6 | Darién National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 7 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 9 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 10 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 11 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 12 | Utría National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 13 | San Lorenzo Protected Forest | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 14 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 15 | Tortuguero National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 16 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 17 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Slaty-backed Forest Falcon in Darién National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Slaty-backed Forest Falcon sighting in Darién National Park, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Slaty-backed Forest Falcon in Darién National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Slaty-backed Forest Falcon in Darién National Park in our monthly data.