The Crimson-Bellied Comeback Kid: An Insider's Guide to the Aplomado Falcon
Published by Avery Wren | Bird of the Day Blog
If you've ever looked at an American Kestrel and thought, "That's cute, but what if we stretched it out, gave it a serious upgrade in velocity, and dressed it in a fancy tricolor tuxedo?"—then you are ready to meet the Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis).
As a self-proclaimed bird nerd-in-residence, I have a soft spot for the underdogs of the raptor world. And let me tell you, the Aplomado Falcon is the ultimate underdog story. This gorgeous, long-tailed speedster was once a common sight across the sweeping desert grasslands of the American Southwest. But by the 1950s, due to a messy cocktail of habitat loss and pesticide use, they completely vanished from the United States .
Thankfully, thanks to some incredibly dedicated conservation efforts (shout out to the tireless breeders at The Peregrine Fund), these birds are staging a spectacular, slow-burn comeback along the Texas coast and the grasslands of New Mexico . Grab your binoculars and a fresh cup of coffee—we are diving headfirst into the fascinating world of the Aplomado.
The Look: How to Identify an Aplomado Falcon
First things first: "Aplomado" is a Spanish word meaning "lead-colored" or "slate-grey" . It's a fitting nod to the bird's elegant, slate-blue back and upperparts . But calling this bird "lead-colored" is like calling a rainbow "moist." These falcons are an absolute masterclass in avian color blocking.
When trying to distinguish an Aplomado Falcon from other regional raptors, keep these four visual keys in mind:
- The Tricolor Underside: This is their signature look. They feature a clean, warm buff or white upper breast, bordered by a stark black "cummerbund" band running across their midsection, which transitions into a rich, rusty-orange (rufous) lower belly and thighs .
- The Bandit Mask: Their heads are highly stylized. Look for bold white and black horizontal stripes across the face, including a dark "mustache" stripe (malar stripe) and a prominent white eyebrow line (supercilium) that wraps around the back of the head .
- Silhouettes and Spans: Slender and long-bodied, they sit at about 15 to 17 inches long with a wingspan of roughly 35 inches . Think of them as roughly the size of a crow, but with much more athletic proportions .
- The Long, Banded Tail: Unlike the stubby tails of some other falcons, the Aplomado has a long, narrow tail marked with distinct black and white horizontal bands . When perched, this tail extends well past the tips of its wings .
The Scene: Where They Call Home
If you are looking for an Aplomado Falcon, you can leave your deep-forest hiking boots at home. These birds are creatures of the wide-open spaces. They thrive in coastal prairies, desert grasslands, and dry savannas dotted with scattered shrubs, trees, or tall yuccas (like the classic Spanish Dagger) .
The structure of their habitat is highly functional. They utilize open grasslands to spot, chase, and outmaneuver smaller birds and insects . Meanwhile, scattered trees, fence posts, and towering yuccas provide the ultimate vantage points for hunting, roosting, and keeping an eye out for territorial rivals .
Interestingly, while they are critically rare in the United States, their global range is massive. The species extends all the way down through Mexico, Central America, and deep into South America—eventually reaching the windswept grasslands of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina . Talk about a broad commute!
Behavior & Diet: High-Speed Cooperative Hunting
Here is where the Aplomado Falcon truly sets itself apart from the rest of the raptor family: they hunt in pairs . While most falcons are fiercely independent, solitary hunters, mated Aplomado pairs are the ultimate ride-or-die power couples of the skies .
Their cooperative strategy is highly coordinated. One falcon (often the male) will dive low into a thicket or shrub to flush out hiding songbirds, while the other partner waits in midair to intercept the escaping prey . It's incredibly dynamic, fast-paced, and highly effective. They have even been known to hunt on foot, chasing down lizards, rodents, and large insects right across the ground with surprising agility .
"Their aerial maneuvers are breathtaking. They'll pass food to each other mid-flight—though sometimes, the male holds on a split-second too long and gets comically dragged through the air by his larger mate before letting go."
In terms of nesting, these birds are classic real estate opportunists. Like most falcons, they do not build their own nests . Instead, they move into abandoned stick nests originally constructed by Chihuahuan Ravens, Crested Caracaras, or White-tailed Hawks . They simply clean up the place and call it home.
The Field Guide: Tips for Spotting One in the Wild
Ready to add this bird to your life list? Because they are still recovering in North America, finding one requires a bit of strategy and a trip to some very specific locations. Here are my top field tips for spotting an Aplomado Falcon:
- Head to South Texas or New Mexico: Your best bet in the United States is the coastal prairies of South Texas—specifically areas like the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge—or the open desert grasslands of southern New Mexico .
- Scan the Fence Lines: Aplomados love high-visibility perches. Drive slowly along quiet rural roads bordering open grasslands and scan fence posts, telephone poles, and the bare branches of mesquite trees .
- Look for Double Trouble: Because they remain paired year-round, if you spot one Aplomado Falcon, start scanning the immediate area . More often than not, their partner is perched on the very next post or soaring nearby .
- Identify the Wing Beats: In flight, they have a unique cadence. Watch for rapid, snappy, somewhat fluttering wingbeats that look surprisingly similar to an American Kestrel, but with a much larger, longer-winged presence in the sky .
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