spot-winged falconet
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Spot-winged falconet
| image = Spiziapteryx circumcincta Spot-winged Falconet, Chancaní Natural Reserve, Córdoba, Argentina 02 (cropped).jpg
| image_caption = Spot-winged falconet in Chancaní Natural Reserve, Córdoba Province, Argentina
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status2 = CITES_A2
| status2_system = CITES
| status2_ref = {{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=February 11, 2023|website=cites.org}}
| genus = Spiziapteryx
| parent_authority = Kaup, 1852
| species = circumcincta
| authority = (Kaup, 1852)
| range_map = Spiziapteryx circumcincta distribution map.svg
}}
The spot-winged falconet (Spiziapteryx circumcincta) is a species of bird of prey in subfamily Falconinae of family Falconidae, the falcons and caracaras.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/falcons/ |title=Seriemas, falcons |website=IOC World Bird List |version =v 13.1 |editor-last1=Gill |editor-first1= F. |editor-last2=Donsker|editor-first2=D.|editor-last3=Rasmussen |editor-first3=P. |date=January 2023 |access-date=February 11, 2023 }} It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and possibly Uruguay.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
Taxonomy
The spot-winged falconet is the only member of genus Spiziapteryx and has no subspecies. Though by size and shape it appears to be a typical falcon, genetic data place it closer to the caracaras.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
Description
The spot-winged falconet is {{convert|25|to|31|cm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and weighs {{convert|149|to|249|g|oz|abbr=on}}; females average about 8% heavier than males. Its wingspan is {{convert|47|to|58|cm|in|abbr=on}} The sexes are alike, and juveniles have the same plumage as adults. The species is stocky with shortish wings and a fairly long tail. Their head, back, and wings are grayish brown with white spots on the wings and shoulders and a white rump. They have a pale supercilium that extends onto the neck. They have black ear coverts and a narrow black "moustache". Their throat is white, their breast, flanks, and upper belly are grayish with narrow brown streaks, and their lower belly is white. Their central tail feathers are dark and the rest dark with white bars and tips. Their iris is pale yellow, their cere and lores are rich yellow, and their legs and feet cream to yellow.{{cite book | last =Ferguson-Lees | first =James | last2 =Christie | first2 =David A. | author-link =James Ferguson-Lees | title =Raptors of the World | publisher =Houghton Mifflin | date =2001 | location =New York | pages =810-811 | language =en | isbn =0-618-12762-3 }}Bierregaard, R. O., G. M. Kirwan, and J. S. Marks (2020). Spot-winged Falconet (Spiziapteryx circumcincta), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.spwfal2.01 retrieved February 13, 2023
Distribution and habitat
The spot-winged falconet is found from Bolivia's Santa Cruz Department south through Paraguay into Argentina as far south as Río Negro Province. Sight records in Uruguay unconfirmed by photographs or specimens lead the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society to treat it as hypothetical in that country. The spot-winged falconet inhabits the Gran Chaco in mostly-open landscapes such as savanna and semi-arid woodlands; all are characterized by scrub with scattered trees. In elevation it ranges from sea level to about {{convert|750|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} but is believed to be most numerous between {{convert|100|and|500|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}.
Behavior
=Movement=
=Feeding=
The spot-winged falconet's hunting techniques have not been fully described, but it is known to still-hunt from a perch. Its diet includes insects of many orders, lizards, small mammals, and birds as large as the rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus) and monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus).
=Breeding=
The spot-winged falconet lays eggs in Argentina during November and December. Birds in breeding condition have also been recorded between July and October, hinting at double-brooding. It nests in enclosed woven nests of other bird species such as cacholotes and in the active communal nests of monk parakeets. The clutch size is two to four eggs; the incubation period is not known; fledging is believed to occur about 33 days after hatch. Details of parental care are not known.
{{birdsong|url=https://xeno-canto.org/species/Spiziapteryx-circumcincta |species=spot-winged falconet}}
=Vocalization=
The spot-winged falconet's main call is a "distinctive nasal clucking constantly repeated, each note falling in pitch with a wailing effect"; it gives this when disturbed at the nest. The species also makes "a loud, guttural "kronk, kronk, kronk..."."
Status
The IUCN has assessed the spot-winged falconet as being of Least Concern. It has a somewhat limited range and its population size is not known, but the latter is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. Its "[p]referred habitat is not among those most seriously devastated in the region."
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Falconiformes|F.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q521042}}