Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) predation on relatively large prey

Abstract

We describe three successful predation events by the Barred Forest Falcon (Micrastur ruficollis) in the Atlantic Forest of coastal southeast Brazil. The prey items were a Plumbeous Pigeon (Patagioenas plumbea), a Brown Tinamou (Crypturellus obsoletus), and a large toad (Chaunus ictericus). This is the first report of successful attacks on prey heavier than the forest falcon, of which none was successfully carried away. These large prey items represent a trade-off between high nutrient value and safety of carrying prey to a secure perch.