Bat Falcon

The Bat Falcon is a compact, powerful little falcon found from Mexico south through Central America into much of South America, typically perching prominently on a dead snag at forest edge or clearing before making fast sallies after prey. Its dramatic plumage — black hood and back, a rufous throat and chest patch, and a strongly barred black-and-white belly — makes it one of the more visually striking small falcons.

Feathers are usually found beneath a favored perch snag at forest edge, where the bird plucks and consumes prey.

Recognizing Bat Falcon feathers

• Flight feathers: Black to blackish-brown above, short and broad-based relative to open-country falcons, built for quick, agile bursts rather than sustained speed.
• Tail feathers: Black with narrow white or pale bars, squared tip.
• Body feathers: Throat and upper breast feathers rich rufous-orange; belly and flank feathers strongly barred black and white; back feathers glossy black.
• Shaft color: Dark, blackish-brown.
• Compared to similar species: Smaller than the similar Orange-breasted Falcon, with a more extensively barred (rather than solid black) belly; the rufous throat patch is more restricted than the Orange-breasted Falcon's broader orange breast band.

Adults have a glossy black head, back, and wings, a rufous-orange throat and upper breast patch, and a black-and-white barred belly and flanks, with rufous thighs. Sexes are similar, with females somewhat larger. Juveniles are duller and browner with a buffier throat patch, molting to the crisp adult pattern within their first year or two.

Found in tropical lowland forest edge, clearings, and gallery forest from Mexico through Central America and much of South America. Generally resident, without long-distance migration.

Hunts from a prominent open perch, sallying out to catch large insects, small birds, and bats, often active at dusk and dawn when bats are on the wing. Nests in tree cavities or old woodpecker holes. Calls are sharp, repeated 'ki-ki-ki' notes. A black feather with rufous throat patch and black-and-white barred belly feathers found near a forest-edge snag in Central or South America points strongly to this species.