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 ~20%
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 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on a given day, based on 50 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 214th most-seen of the 329 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and August
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Collared Forest Falcon in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on a given day, against under 5% in February–July and September–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.
27th of 59
Of the 59 parks where we can rate Collared Forest Falcon sightings, Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge ranks 27th 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 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (50 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.
