Northern Aplomado Falcon Scientific Name: Falco Femoralis Septentrionalis Federal Status: Endangered, 2/26/86 • State Status: Endangered

Northern Aplomado Falcon Scientific Name: Falco femoralis septentrionalis Federal Status: Endangered, 2/26/86 • State Status: Endangered Description and dark tail with 6 to 8 narrow, regions in Texas. In western Texas, it A boldly-marked, colorful Neotropical white crossbars. Male and female are was associated with open desert falcon that fits into the body size scale similar in appearance except that the grasslands with scattered yuccas, of North American falcons between female is noticeably larger than the mesquite, and other shrubs; or oak the Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. male. Juveniles are similar to adults, woodlands and gallery forests sur- Measurements are: total length 15 to but with white facial and breast rounded by or intermingled with 18 inches, wingspan 32 to 36 inches, plumage suffused with buff or cinna- desert grasslands. In southern Texas, and weight 7.5 to 18 ounces – similar mon, other plumage areas not as coastal prairie and marsh habitats in size to the Cooper’s Hawk or Amer- richly colored, and the white upper that supported small islands of trees ican Crow. Aplomado means “steel- breast heavily dark streaked. and shrubs or that interfaced with gray” in Spanish in reference to the woodlands along freshwater adult’s dorsal plumage. Distribution drainages and estuaries were used. Distinguishing adult field marks and Habitat In Mexico, the Aplomado is found in include bold face markings; contrast- The Aplomado Falcon’s Neotropical a broad range of semi-open tropical distribution extends from southern Argentina northward through Mexico in to the southwestern United States. Three subspecies are recognized and the Northern Aplomado Falcon is the northernmost subspecies. It occurs locally throughout much of Mexico and historically reached the northern limits of its range in southeast- ern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western and southern Texas. Early naturalists (1878- 1925) noted that Aplomados bred in the Trans-Pecos and southern, coastal regions of Texas. However, historic status and trend in Texas is difficult to assess because of the general nature and the scarcity of historic records. In 1900, J. Strecker and subtropical habitat settings, observed three (3) active Aplomado including coastal prairies, wetlands, nests in the vicinity of Midland and savannas, and shrublands; cut-over stated that his collecting party “fre- rain forests, cleared pastureland and quently” saw this bird in the Trans- farmland; dry deciduous woodlands; Aplomado Falcon Pecos. It was variously described as upland pine woodlands; and open © TPWD Glen Mills “locally common,” “not very com- desert grasslands. ing breast, belly, and undertail mon,” and “uncommon” in southern, Aplomado Falcon habitat almost plumage; relatively long wings nar- coastal Texas. Aplomados declined always contains an open grassland rowing at the body; and long tail. throughout their U.S. range, including component with either scattered The face pattern consists of a blue- Texas, during the first half of the islands of shrubs or trees or wood- gray crown; broad, white eyebrow 20th century. The last breeding of land and forest borders. Landscapes over a blue-gray eyestripe; a white wild birds in Texas was reported in with these open characteristics proba- cheek, and prominent, blue-gray mus- 1941. Except for regular sightings on bly favor the falcon’s mode of spot- tache. A dark band or “cummerbund” the King Ranch (Kleberg County) as ting, chasing, and capturing avian extends across the belly separating a late as the 1950s, reports of the Aplo- prey. Shrubs and trees provide white breast and rich cinnamon lower mado Falcon were extremely rare in perching and nesting sites and may belly, flanks, and undertail. Fleshy the U.S. after the 1940s. In Mexico, enhance the diversity and abundance eyering and legs are yellow. In flight, however, it remains in much of its of potential prey species. the underside shows dark wing lin- historic range. Reliable sightings of Aplomados, ings that are bridged by a darker cum- Historically, the Aplomado Falcon usually single birds, have been berbund; white breast and throat; occurred in two distinctly different cinnamon lower belly and tail coverts; and widely separated ecological Northern Aplomado Falcon 1 reported with increasing frequency in Weights of avian prey range from southern New Mexico and western 0.12 ounce (hummingbird) to 19 Texas (Jeff Davis and Culberson coun- ounces (Plain Chachalaca), but most ties) since the 1990s. Two small birds taken weigh less than 3.5 breeding populations of falcons in ounces. Aplomados in coastal and north-central Chihuahua, Mexico, also tropical environments are highly insec- discovered in the 1990s, were probable tivorous, but insects contribute <3% by sources for the birds being reported in weight to the total diet. Insect prey the U.S. In 2002, a pair of wild Aplo- includes crickets, beetles, dragonflies, mado Falcons successfully reared butterflies, cicadas, locusts, wasps, young near Deming, New Mexico. moths, bees, and others. These events may represent the begin- Like most other falcons, Aploma- ning of natural recolonization by Aplo- dos are swift flyers. In full flight, mados into portions of their former they are probably slightly faster than U.S. range. Reintroductions of captive- Mourning and White-winged doves. Aplomado Falcon chicks reared falcons have been ongoing since They dive and execute aerobatic © Frid Fridrickson 1987 in southern Texas and were initi- maneuvers in their pursuit of prey, ated in western Texas in 2002. but also frequently hover and soar. They are agile afoot and will chase Life History prey in trees from limb to limb and The Aplomado is an aggressive preda- on the ground. tor that feeds mainly on other birds The vocal repertoire of Aplo- and insects, but also takes bats, small mado Falcons consists of 4 distinct rodents, lizards, and other animals. calls. The “kek” or “ki” call is given This falcon locates prey from observa- almost exclusively in agonistic con- tion posts or while in flight. Birds texts such as when adults recognize and insects may be taken on the wing potential predators or when they are or ambushed while on the ground. It being harassed by other birds. The “chip” is given as either a single note Male falcon providing food aggressively chases birds even pursu- © Noel Synder ing them through shrub and tree or as a 2 to 3 note series in a wide canopies and on the ground. Often range of contexts. “Wails” consists of may also nest in arboreal bromeliads mated pairs hunt cooperatively. In a 3 to 4 note series given at the nest or rarely on the ground. Egg laying these instances, one bird may flush by the female to initiate hunting for- usually occurs in March and April. the potential prey into a position ays by the male, but also by both Two to 3 eggs are laid and then coop- where it can be attacked by its mate. adults at the nest during courtship. eratively incubated for 31 to 32 days It hunts most often during daylight The “chittering” note consists of 7 or before hatching. Downy hatchlings hours, but also before sunrise and more notes and is given by adults are closely brooded by the female for after sunset taking advantage of cre- and young during feeding sessions. the first week and less frequently puscular birds, bats, and insects. It is presumed that Aplomados thereafter. The male does the major- Aplomados practice “kleptopara- are monogamous. Mated pairs ity of the hunting for the nestlings, sitism” – the act of commandeering remain together year-round. Pair but may be joined by the female in prey from other raptors and preda- bonding involves various courtship this pursuit. Food items brought to tory water birds such as herons and displays, including joint reconnais- the nest by the male are fed to the kingfishers. They sometimes “cache” sance flights of prospective territo- young by the female. Young leave the food items for later consumption and ries, perching, chasing, soaring, and nest at 4 to 5 weeks of age and the will aggressively defend caches. diving. Males may select the nest adults continue to feed the fledglings In eastern and southern Mexico, platform and solicit the female’s away from the nest until their flight 43 bird species were preyed on by attention by soaring above and then feathers are fully grown. Little is Aplomados, and birds comprised 97% landing at the nest and giving a known about the dispersal or survival of the diet by weight. Principal prey “chip” call. Once the female joins her of young; although, one juvenile species included the Great-tailed mate at the nest, both may give banded as a nestling in northern Chi- Grackle, Mourning Dove, White-winged “wail” and “chip” calls, squat, and huahua, Mexico, was observed approx- Dove, Grooved-billed Ani, Yellow-billed pick at nest sticks with their bills. imately 180 miles away in south- Cuckoo, meadowlarks, and Northern Copulation occurs in conjunction with central New Mexico. In eastern Bobwhite. In Chihuahua, Mexico, nest platform displays. Some evi- Mexico, 25 nests produced 38 nestlings meadowlarks, Common Nighthawk, dence suggests that females are capa- from an estimated 66 eggs. Similarly, Western Kingbird, Brown-headed Cow- ble of breeding at 11 to 12 months of in Chihuahua, Mexico, 7 nests pro- bird, Mourning Dove, Cactus Wren, age, but typically they do not success- duced 11 nestlings from 18 eggs. Pyrrhuloxia, Ash-throated Flycatcher, fully breed until 2 years of age. The population status and trend Blue Grosbeak, and Canyon Towhee There is no evidence that Aplo- and geographic distribution of the predominated in the avian diet. mados build their own nest, instead Aplomado Falcon in the U.S. is diffi- the pair takes over an old or newly cult to assess because of the sparse- constructed stick nest of another rap- ness of historical information, the 2 Northern Aplomado Falcon tor, large jay, or raven.

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