Micrastur semitorquatus
Silhouette: Unknown (photo), John E. McCormack, Michael G. Harvey, Brant C. Faircloth, Nicholas G. Crawford, Travis C. Glenn, Robb T. Brumfield & T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The collared forest falcon (Micrastur semitorquatus) is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is the largest member of the Micrastur genus and a common inhabitant of tropical rainforests in Latin America. Hiding in the dense forest canopy, they are a secretive bird often only recognized by their distinctive call. 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).
Nesting occurs mainly in the cavities of Spanish cedar trees, which are also a key species exploited by the local logging industry. This is a potential conservation concern for the collared forest falcon. The collared forest falcon has a dark coloured back with a white neck and breast. The species has three morphological variants (morphs): pale, tawny and dark. The former two have a light coloured collar at the back of their neck, which explains their name. This is the largest species of the forest falcon genus, with a total length of 46 to 58 cm (18 to 23 in), wingspan of 72 to 86 cm (28 to 34 in) and male weights of 467 to 646 g (1.030 to 1.424 lb), averaging... Wikipedia →
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Pedro Sula | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 2 | João Pessoa | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | San Salvador | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | |
| 4 | Managua | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | |
| 5 | San José | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Curitiba | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Guatemala City | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 8 | Panama City | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 9 | São Paulo | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auto Safari Chapin | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 2 | GüiráOga | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Collared Forest Falcon sighting in Iguazú National Park on a given day, based on 204 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 180th most-seen of the 343 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–February, May and July
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Collared Forest Falcon in Iguazú National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–April, June and August–December, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Collared Forest Falcon sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
18th of 59
Of the 59 parks where we can rate Collared Forest Falcon sightings, Iguazú National Park ranks 18th at under 5%. The best odds are in El Triunfo (Mexico, about 20%), Carara National Park (Costa Rica, about 10%) and Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park (Honduras, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Collared Forest Falcon is recorded against all the birds logged in Iguazú National Park (204 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
