Bat Falcon
Falco rufigularis
About This Species
This fast-flying falcon hunts at dawn and dusk over forest edges, clearings, and river margins across Central and South America, often perching on a dead snag or exposed branch to scan for insects and small birds before launching short pursuit flights. Listen for sharp, high-pitched calls near forest clearings, and watch at dusk when it hawks for bats and large insects on the wing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View from a distance with binoculars rather than approaching a favored hunting perch, since repeated flushing can interrupt feeding.
- General wildlife viewing guidance across its range recommends staying on trails, avoiding playback, and not using flash near active perches; disturbance rules vary by country, so check local regulations.
LCAvesFalconiformesFalconidae
Seasonal Activity
144,718 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.