About the Laughing Falcon
The laughing falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey in subfamily Herpetotherinae of family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found from Mexico south through Central America and in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Laughing Falcon sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Prairie FalconFalco mexicanusVoice: Calls, heard mostly near the nest, are described as repetitive kree kree kree…, kik kik kik…, and the like, similar to the peregrine's call but higher-pitched.
Brown FalconFalco berigoraAdults are usually 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) long.
Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroidesThe nankeen kestrel is a small, slim falcon 28 to 35 cm (11 to 14 in) long with a wingspan of 66 to 78 cm (26 to 31 in).
Side by side: Laughing Falcon vs Nankeen Kestrel · Laughing Falcon vs Prairie Falcon · Brown Falcon vs Laughing Falcon
Learn the Laughing Falcon for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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