Bird Guide

Brown Falcon vs Laughing Falcon

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Brown Falcon

Falco berigora

Large587 gWoodland

Adults are usually 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) long. They are found in light and dark forms and a variety of intermediates. Animals typically have red-brown heads with narrow black streaks with a light crown and off-white chin. Wings are a spotted red-brown with dark brown quills. Beaks are light blue/grey; eyes are brown. The falcons make a loud cackle call uttered frequently.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cal Wood · CC BY 4.0
Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans)

Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Large624 gForest

The laughing falcon is 45 to 56 cm (18 to 22 in) long and has a wingspan of 79 to 94 cm (31 to 37 in). Females are slightly larger than males and significantly heavier. Males of the nominate subspecies weigh 408 to 686 g (0.9 to 1.5 lb) and females 590 to 800 g (1.3 to 1.8 lb). Subspecies H. c. fulvescens is slightly smaller than the nominate. The sexes of the laughing falcon have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have creamy white underparts that vary somewhat among individuals, seasonally, and with feather wear. Voice: The laughing falcon is highly vocal. Its "advertisement call" is a "long rhythmic far-carrying series of loud hollow notes...often after bubbly laugh at outset, series of wah notes that gradually increase in pitch and loudness...into series of wah'-co phrases." This vocalization has also been described as a song and rendered as "a fairly steady wah wah or w-hah w-hah or ha...ha...ha".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Nelson Hernández · CC BY 4.0
Photo: iNaturalist user: carnifex · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brown Falcon and Laughing Falcon.