The bat falcon (Falco rufigularis ) is a falcon that is a resident breeder in tropical Mexico, Central and South America, Trinidad. It was long known as Falco albigularis ; the names Falco fusco-coerulescens or Falco fuscocaerulescens, long used for the aplomado falcon, are now believed to refer to the present species.
It is probably closely related to and looks like a small version of the orange-breasted falcon with which it has been misidentified. These two, in turn, are probably closest to the aplomado falcon and constitute a rather old American lineage of Falco species.
The female bat falcon, at 30.5 cm length, is much larger than the 23-cm-long male. Adults have a black back, head, and tail. The throat, upper breast, and neck sides are creamy white, the lower breast and belly are black, finely barred white, and the thighs and lower belly are orange. Young birds are similar, but with a buffy throat. The call of this species is a high pitched ke-ke-ke like the American kestrel.
This small, dark bird of prey inhabits open woodlands and forest clearings. Bat falcons perch conspicuously on high, open snags, from which they launch aerial attacks on their prey. They hunt bats, birds, small rodents and large insects such as dragonflies. The smaller male takes more insects, and the female more birds and bats. The flight is direct and powerful. This falcon is partly crepuscular, as the bats in its diet suggest. It lays two or three brown eggs in an unlined treehole nest.
Bat falcons are small but widespread birds of prey in Mexico, Central, and South America. Adults have a black back, head, and tail. Their throat, upper breast, and neck sides are creamy white, the lower breast and belly are black, finely barred white, and the thighs and lower belly are orange. Young birds are similar in color, but with a buffy throat. Females in this species are much larger than males.
Bat falcons breed in tropical Mexico, Central and South America, and Trinidad. These small birds inhabit open woodlands, moist forests, dry forests, and savannah. They are often found in forest edge, along riverbanks and streams.
Bat falcons are generally solitary birds and outside of the breeding season spend time singly. They perch conspicuously on high, open snags, from which they launch aerial attacks on their prey. Their flight is direct and powerful. Bat falcons are mainly crepuscular and hunt by dusk and down. When hunting they may catch their prey on the wing, or on the ground. Bat falcons communicate with each other visually and vocally; their main call is a high pitched "ke-ke-ke".
Bat falcons breed are carnivores and hunt bats, birds, and large insects such as dragonflies moths and grasshoppers. They may also eat lizards and mice occasionally.
Bat falcons are monogamous; both males and females mate with only one partner. The start of the breeding season varies with location and during this time pairs become very aggressive defend strongly their nest from predators. The female lays two or three brown eggs usually in an unlined tree hole nest. The incubation period lasts around 4 to 7 weeks. Chicks are hatched naked and with closed eyes; they fledge at 35-40 days after hatching and are able to eat the prey on their own.
Bat falcons are not threatened globally but in Mexico and Central America, these small birds of prey suffer from habitat loss and deforestation.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Bat falcon population size is around 500,000-4,999,999 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.