Falcons and Caracaras Falconidae
The Falcons and Caracaras are split into 10 genera and are comprised of 61 species. They are distributed almost worldwide, except Antarctica. The Saker Falcon Falco cherrug is considered endangered. The Plumbeous Forest-falcon Micrastur plumbeus, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus, and the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea are all vulnerable. Another 8 species are near-threatened.

Caracara
There are 2 species in this genus.

The Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway was only recently split from the South America Southern Caracara Caracara plancus. Unlike falcons, the caracaras spend alot of time on the ground. They also differ in not being fast-flying aerial hunters, but are rather sluggish, often prefering to scavenge for prey. They range from the southern USA, south to northern South America. I photographed this adult at the Santa Rosa National Park, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, June 2007.




Milvago
There are 2 species in this genus.

Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima near Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, June 2009.








Falco
There are 38 species in this genus; by far the largest in the family.

The Merlin Falco columbarius is widely distributed across the northern hemisphere. Most North American birds migrate south for the winter, some as far south as northern South America. In North America, they were formerly known as the "Pigeon Hawk". There are several distinct races, this Pacific Northwest "Black" race was photographed during winter at Kino Springs, near Nogales, Arizona, November 2006.






NON-PASSERINES