The collared forest falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae.
With a morphology or body type allowing them to be agile in their forested habitat, their diet comprises a wide variety of prey from smaller frogs (20 g) to adult turkeys (2.7-3.2 kg).
[4] Nesting occurs mainly in the cavities of Spanish cedar trees, which are also a key species exploited by the local logging industry.
Pupils begin with a blue back hue and black iris which turns to a more chocolate brown after four weeks.
[3] The former occurs in regions starting from Mexico south descending through Central America towards the west Andes in Colombia, Ecuador and extreme northwest Peru.
[10] Morphological traits adapted to flying in a dense forest habitat - shorter rounded wings, long legs and tail - represent an example of convergent evolution with the Accipiter species.
[4] The species is commonly found in many Central and South American countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
The low-frequency of the sound and the timing at which they tend to communicate makes it possible for them to be heard at great distances in the dense forest canopy.
[4] The most typical call heard from both males and females is an eight-second song consisting of three or four ow or ahr notes.
This hunting of animals is thought to be aided by their specialized sense of hearing supported by a more pronounced facial disk, also seen in owls and harriers.
[4] This Micrastur species enjoys a wide variety of prey such as birds, mammals, lizards, snakes and insects.
In a study conducted from 1990–92, prey items delivered to the females, nestlings and fledglings were counted and identified to species (if possible).
Results showed that the largest proportion of the collared forest falcon's diet consisted of mammals (46.2%).
[4] Courtship activities including vocalizations, searching and guarding of nest sites, prey exchanges and copulation occur during the dry season from January to March.
It is late into the nestling period before the mother is able to leave the nest to go hunt and the father is no longer the sole provider of food for the family.
[14][4] Currently, M. semitorquatus ranks as least concern in conservation status since it inhabits a wide variety of forest types.
On the other hand, the collared forest falcon tends to select bigger, old growth trees such as the Cedrela mexicana as their nesting sites.