It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

What is now the cryptic forest falcon (M. mintoni) was a population of the lined forest falcon until 2002 when vocal studies and specimen analyses determined it was a separate species.

[2] The lined forest falcon is 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) long and weighs 170 to 262 g (6.0 to 9.2 oz).

Its iris is white surrounded by bare reddish orange skin and its legs and feet are yellow.

Its diet has not been described in detail but is known to include lizards, large insects, birds, snakes, and small mammals.

[1] It is thought to be "the most abundant diurnal raptor over much of lowland forest of Amazonia, where it attains very high densities".