plomado
The Aplomado is native to Central and South America.
Plumage
A colorful falcon, this bird has speckled under-wings, a dark blue-gray tail with thin white stripes. The back, head, and wings are a blue-black color with a light stripe above the eyes. This bird is similar to the Prairie, except darker and more vibrant.
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An immature Aplomado, still a bit downy on the head |
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A mature Aplomado Falcon |
Hunting
Typical quarry caught with the Aplomado will be small birds such as Quail or Doves. In the wild these birds typically eat small birds and insects, small reptiles, rodents, grasshoppers, lizards, and snakes.
Trivia
This bird actually hunts more like the Accipiters than a typical falcon.
The word "Aplomado" is Spanish for lead-colored referring to the bird's blue-black coloring. It is also called the Orange-Chested Hobby.
Like most small falcons, Aplomados are known for carrying their catch. They are also known to want to migrate in certain times of year.
Links
https://peregrinefund.org/news-release/zero-five-hundred-aplomado-falcons-are-fast-track-recovery-south-texas http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19112509/