Collared Forest-Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

eBird gives this description for the Collared Forest-Falcon:  Large and lanky, but heard much more often than seen. Widespread in tropical forest, ranging into semi-open areas with larger trees; in West Mexico it even occurs up into pine-oak forest high in the mountains. Hunts from canopy to forest floor, but usually calls from high in trees. Note the long yellow legs and long rounded tail with narrow white bars. Adults are usually white below, with dark ‘sideburns,’ but can be buffy below, and very rarely are black overall. Immatures have variable dark barring below.

The Birds of the World website introduces this bird with this descriptive information:  The Collared Forest-Falcon is the largest member of its genus. It occurs in a wide variety of tropical forested habitats from central Mexico to southern Brazil. The Collared Forest-Falcon typically prefers humid lowland rainforest but can be found in semi-deciduous, deciduous and riparian forests in the more arid parts of its range. It is a distinctive species, with three color morphs: pale, dark and tawny. The pale and tawny morphs exhibit the pale collar across the back of the neck for which the species is named; this collar contrasts strongly with the black upperparts. The species is often common and is identified easily by its distinctive humanlike ‘aw’ notes, though it is generally harder to see than hear. The Collared Forest-Falcon feeds on a variety of small mammals and birds in the interior of forest which it appears to locate by hearing, though it has been known to run prey down on the ground.

I  met my first Collared Forest-Falcon at Carara National Park in Costa Rica on the morning of February 10, 2023.  We were walking one of the main trails at the park when one of the local guides put us on this bird, which was perched high up near the top of the canopy.