Laughing Falcon

Laughing Falcon

The Laughing Falcon is a fairly common raptor of lowlands and foothills found in Mexico, Central America, and most of South America. As the name suggests, it is a highly vocal species, and I hear its song, a characteristic sound of the Neotropics, almost every morning here in Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Here it is, looking down for its favorite food, snakes.

The buffy tips of the back feathers indicate that this is an immature bird.

I think I also see a molt limit in the greater coverts, with two lighter and longer inner feathers contrasting with fresher outer greater coverts.