The lined forest falcon is a species of bird of prey in subfamily Herpetotherinae of family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Occurs widely in lowland evergreen rainforest, including terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea forests. Favors dense understory, forest edges, bamboo thickets, and riparian corridors, but usually avoids open country. Often uses semi-open gaps and trails within otherwise closed canopy forest for ambush hunting. Tolerates some secondary growth where substantial forest structure remains.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A secretive raptor of the Amazon, the lined forest falcon hunts from shaded perches and darts through dense understory to seize prey. It was long confused with the barred forest falcon but is now recognized as distinct by its finer underpart barring and vocalizations. Its far-carrying, whistled calls are most often heard at dawn and dusk. It sometimes attends army-ant swarms to ambush flushed prey.
Temperament
secretive and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick, low dashes and brief glides through forest understory
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories within mature forest. Nests in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes, with both adults participating in incubation and care of the young. Courtship includes vocal duets and food exchange.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Most vocal at dawn and dusk, giving a series of clear, far-carrying whistled notes that may accelerate or descend slightly in pitch. Also emits sharp kek or cackling calls in agitation or during territorial disputes.
Plumage
Upperparts dark slaty-brown to gray with a long, banded tail; underparts pale with fine, even dark barring giving a 'lined' appearance. Throat and upper chest are paler, often whitish, contrasting with the barred lower underparts. Feathers are sleek and compact, adapted for maneuvering through dense forest.
Diet
Feeds on small birds, rodents, bats, lizards, frogs, and large insects. Hunts by sit-and-wait from shaded perches, followed by rapid, low pursuit or pouncing. Will exploit prey flushed by mixed-species flocks or army-ant swarms and occasionally takes nestlings.
Preferred Environment
Forages within dense understory and along forest edges, trails, and streams where visibility and ambush opportunities are better. Uses low to mid-level perches with partial cover to remain concealed.
