Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans (Linnaeus, 1758)

Laughing Falcon, Herpetotheres cachinnans, is a bird of prey of Middle America and South America, ranging from Mexico to northern Argentina. It belongs to the Falconidae and is the only species in Herpetotheres. It was first described by Linnaeus in 1758. The bird lives in semi-open wooded country, including forests, gallery woodland, palm groves and savannas, and it avoids dense forest interiors. Its range extends through Central America and much of mainland South America, with the nominate form the more widespread of the two accepted subspecies.

Order

Falconiformes

Family

Falconidae — Caracaras, Falcons

Breeding range

Middle America, South America: Mexico to n Argentina