Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE FALCON-LIKE BIRDS

Falcon Description

The Falcon-like birds are so characteristic in appearance and in general so well known, that they are hardly ever mistaken, even by the most careless observer. Typically they are birds of robust size, with powerful wings which enable them to pursue and capture other birds or swift-moving animals of various kinds. They mostly have short but very stout bills with a strongly arched tip and sharp cutting edges, thus being admirably adapted for tearing flesh, skin, or even breaking bones. They have mostly rather short, stout legs, although, as will be shown later, there are certain notable exceptions to this.

The feet are also strong and provided, in most cases, with long, much curved, and very sharp claws. In those which feed on dead animal matter, however, the claws are often blunt and weak as compared with those which capture their own prey. Another distinguishing feature is the cere, which is a peculiar membrane sheathing the base of the upper mandible. The nostrils open in or through the edge of the cere, which may be either soft or horny.

There are only two other im-1 portant groups of birds possessing the hooked bill and the cere: namely, the l: Owls and the Parrots. From the former they differ in the close, harsher plumage, non-reversible fourth toe (except Pandioninm), and diurnal habits, and from the latter in the structure of the feet. Technically the Falcon-like birds have many osteological features in common with the two preceding orders, but they may always be separated from them by the raptorial feet, which are never webbed.

The present order (Falconiformes) is divided, according to Pycraft, into three suborders: the Catharta, which embraces the American Vultures, the Gypogerani, which includes only the Secretary-Bird of Africa, and the Accipitres, under which is included all remaining forms of Falcons, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Old World Vultures, etc. The latter is further subdivided into two families, the Falconidtz, with two subfamilies, and the Buteonidm, embracing thirteen subfamilies. The characters on which each is founded are presented under the several headings.

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