7 currently recognised: See text Forest falcons are members of the genus Micrastur, part of the family Falconidae.

Hunting is often performed in goshawk fashion: the bird takes up a perch in an inconspicuous position and waits for a prey species to pass, then strikes with a short, rapid pursuit.

In 2002, a new species was described, found in the Atlantic forest and the southeastern Amazon of Brazil (and later also confirmed for adjacent parts of Bolivia).

It has been named Micrastur mintoni, the cryptic forest falcon, as it is phenotypically highly similar to M.

Sclater and Salvin commented in 1869 that "some of the members of the genus Micrastur are at present in a state of great confusion".