Biota

Exploring Nature

Section 8 — Falcons, Seriemas & Parrots

The closest living relatives of the songbirds. This section brings together three very different but evolutionarily linked groups: the fast‑flying falcons, the long‑legged, ground‑hunting seriemas, and the intelligent, highly social parrots.

Falcons are specialised aerial predators, built for speed and precision. Seriemas are terrestrial hunters of the South American grasslands. Parrots, the largest group here, are known for their strong bills, complex social behaviour, and remarkable vocal abilities. Despite their differences, all three lineages share a deep evolutionary connection with the passerines.

Orders included

  1. Order: Cariamiformes (Seriemas)
  2. Order: Falconiformes (Falcons & Caracaras)
  3. Order: Psittaciformes (Parrots)

Species I’ve Seen in This Section

Listed below by Order, Family, and species, with notes on where and when each was recorded.

Order: Falconiformes

Falcons and Caracaras
These are high-speed aerial hunters known for their incredible agility and pointed wings. Unlike other hawks, they often kill their prey using a specialized notch in their beak rather than just their talons. They are famous for their keen eyesight and “stooping” dives, making them some of the fastest creatures on the planet.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
— Guildford 2016

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) – 18
  1. Northern Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Antarctica 2021; Buenos Aires 2021; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  2. Black Caracara (Daptrius ater) — Amazon 2024
  3. Merlin (Falco columbarius) — Norway & Finland 2018; Texas 2024
  4. Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) — Amazon 2024
  5. Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis) — Texas 2024
  6. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) — Yellowstone 2017
  7. Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) — Spain 2016
  8. New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) — New Zealand 2023
  9. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) — Various (UK Species)
  10. Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) — Amazon 2024
  11. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  12. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) — Yellowstone 2017; Antarctica 2021; Texas 2024
  13. Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) — Norway & Finland 2018
  14. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) — Various (UK Species)
  15. Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  16. Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  17. Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  18. Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango) — Antarctica 2021; Buenos Aires 2021

Order: Psittaciformes

Parrots, Macaws, and Cockatoos
These intelligent and social birds are easily recognized by their powerful, curved bills and brightly colored feathers. They are famous for their ability to use their feet like hands to hold food and for their loud, expressive calls. Found mostly in tropical regions, they are highly adaptable and often form lifelong bonds with their mates.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
— Costa Rica 2015

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots) – 31
  1. White-fronted Amazon (White-fronted Parrot) (Amazona albifrons) — Costa Rica 2015
  2. Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  3. Yellow-naped Amazon (Yellow-naped Parrot) (Amazona auropalliata) — Costa Rica 2015
  4. Red-lored Amazon (Red-lored Parrot) (Amazona autumnalis) — Costa Rica 2015
  5. Festive Amazon (Amazona festiva) — Amazon 2024
  6. Northern Mealy Amazon (Mealy Parrot) (Amazona guatemalae) — Costa Rica 2015
  7. Red-crowned Parrot (Amazona viridigenalis) — Texas 2024
  8. Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) — Costa Rica 2015
  9. Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) — Amazon 2024
  10. Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  11. Golden-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris chrysoptera) — Amazon 2024
  12. Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) — Costa Rica 2015
  13. Tui Parakeet (Brotogeris sanctithomae) — Amazon 2024
  14. White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus) — Amazon 2024
  15. Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) — Antarctica 2021
  16. Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis) — Costa Rica 2015
  17. Brown-throated Parakeet (Orange-throated Parakeet) (Eupsittula pertinax) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  18. Green-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus passerinus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  19. Short-tailed Parrot (Graydidascalus brachyurus) — Amazon 2024
  20. Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) — Buenos Aires 2021
  21. Nanday Parakeet (Nendayus nenday) — Buenos Aires 2021
  22. Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus) — Amazon 2024
  23. Dusky Parrot (Pionus fuscus) — Amazon 2024
  24. Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) — Amazon 2024
  25. White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis) — Costa Rica 2015
  26. Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Psittacara finschi) — Costa Rica 2015
  27. White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus) — Buenos Aires 2021; Amazon 2024
  28. Orange-cheeked Parrot (Pyrilia barrabandi) — Amazon 2024
  29. Caica Parrot (Pyrilia caica) — Amazon 2024
  30. Brown-hooded Parrot (Pyrilia haematotis) — Costa Rica 2015
  31. Sulphur-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoffmanni) — Costa Rica 2015
Family: Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots) – 5
  1. Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps) — New Zealand 2023
  2. Orange-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi) — New Zealand 2023
  3. Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) — New Zealand 2023
  4. Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) — New Zealand 2023
  5. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) — Bhutan & India 2020
Family: Strigopidae (New Zealand Parrots) – 2
  1. Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) — New Zealand 2023
  2. Kea (Nestor notabilis) — New Zealand 2023