Falco Deiroleucus Research Articles

Contrasting Genomic Diversity and Inbreeding Levels Among Two Closely Related Falcon Species With Overlapping Geographic Distributions.

Genomic resources are valuable to examine historical demographic patterns and their effects to better inform management and conservation of threatened species. We evaluated population trends and genome-wide variation in the near-threatened Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) and its more common sister species, the Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis), to explore how the two species differ in genomic diversity as influenced by their contrasting long-term demographic histories. We generated and aligned whole genome resequencing data for 12 Orange-breasted Falcons and 9 Bat Falcons to an annotated Gyrfalcon (F. rusticolus) reference genome that retained approximately 22.4 million biallelic autosomal SNPs (chromosomes 1-22). Our analyses indicated much lower genomic diversity in Orange-breasted Falcons compared to Bat Falcons. All sampled Orange-breasted Falcons were significantly more inbred than the sampled Bat Falcons, with values similar to those observed in island-mainland species comparisons. The distribution of runs of homozygosity showed variation suggesting long-term low population size and the possibility of bottlenecks in Orange-breasted Falcons contrasting with consistently larger populations in Bat Falcons. Analysis of genetic load suggests that Orange-breasted Falcons are less likely to experience inbreeding depression than Bat Falcons due to reduced inbreeding load but are at elevated risk from fixation of deleterious gene variants and perhaps a reduced adaptive potential. These genomic analyses highlight differences in the historical demography of two closely related species that have influenced their current genomic diversity and should result in differing strategies for their continued conservation.

First records of Falco deiroleucus nest temminck, 1825 (Falconiformes: Falconidae) tree for Brazil and the first description of food storage in hollow tree.

First records of Falco deiroleucus nest temminck, 1825 (Falconiformes: Falconidae) tree for Brazil and the first description of food storage in hollow tree.

Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the orange-breasted falcon (Falco deiroleucus)

We isolated and characterized a total of 24 microsatellite loci from the orange-breasted falcon (Falco deiroleucus). Loci were screened in 32 individuals currently maintained as a captive population: 13 wild-caught individuals from Panama and four from Belize, and the remaining 15 were first generation F1 offspring. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.938, and the probability of identity values ranged from 0.075 to 0.604. These new loci will provide tools for identifying relatedness values among sampled individuals currently in captivity and for exploring genetic diversity levels and connectivity between populations in Central America.

An Incubating Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) as Host for a Vampire Bat

An Incubating Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) as Host for a Vampire Bat

Isolation and Decline of A Population of the Orange-Breasted Falcon

Abstract. Probably always rare and local because of its ecology and specialized habitat, the small, isolated population of the Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) in Belize and Guatemala, likely numbering fewer than 40 territorial pairs, appears to be in steep decline in Belize. Territory occupancy (n = 12 eyries) in the population we studied in Belize declined from 83% (1992 to 1997) to 54% (2003 to 2009), and occupancy in 2009 was only half the mean in the prior decade. Mean annual production of fledglings per territorial pair declined 35% from 0.77 to 0.50. Mean annual population productivity, which measures the combined effect of occupancy and fecundity, declined 57% from 0.90 to 0.38. In contrast, neither occupancy nor fledging success in Guatemala (n = 7 eyries) declined over the same time period. Historical records and recent surveys suggest that the Orange-breasted Falcon has been extirpated from much of Central America and southern Mexico and that its range is contracting in South America,...

Falcon Adenovirus in an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

A fatal adenovirus infection is described in a wild-caught American kestrel (Falco sparverius). Predominate lesions were a moderate to severe hepatitis with diffuse single-cell necrosis of hepatocytes and a splenitis characterized by necrosis of cells surrounding the sheathed arteries. Pan-nuclear eosinophilic to magenta inclusion bodies were abundant within hepatocytes. Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify a portion of the hexon gene from DNA extracted from the bird's liver and spleen. Sequence analysis showed that the adenovirus infecting this kestrel was the falcon adenovirus with a sequence homology of 99.5% to the isolate from the Northern aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) variant and 98.6% homology to isolates from the taita (Falco fasciinucha) and orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus). This report expands the range of species of falcons that are susceptible to falcon adenovirus infection and disease. Given that this kestrel was recently wild caught and housed in isolation with other wild-caught kestrels, it is likely that the falcon adenovirus is present in wild populations of American kestrels.

An Observation of Foliage-bathing by an Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) in Tikal, Guatemala

I observed a pair of Orange-breasted Falcons (Falco deiroleucus) in Tikal, Guatemala, on 30 December 2003 and 1 January 2004. I observed the birds flying through wet foliage as a means of bathing, which has not been described previously for this species. During a morning with light rain, an adult falcon took off from a perch, flew low over the forest canopy, and appeared to crash intentionally into the wet, upper foliage of emergent trees before returning to its perch. I observed three repetitions of this behavior.

Characterization of a New Species of Adenovirus in Falcons

In 1996, a disease outbreak occurred at a captive breeding facility in Idaho, causing anorexia, dehydration, and diarrhea or sudden death in 72 of 110 Northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) from 9 to 35 days of age and in 6 of 102 peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) from 14 to 25 days of age. Sixty-two Northern aplomado and six peregrine falcons died. Epidemiologic analyses indicated a point source epizootic, horizontal transmission, and increased relative risk associated with cross-species brooding of eggs. Primary lesions in affected birds were inclusion body hepatitis, splenomegaly, and enteritis. The etiology in all mortalities was determined by molecular analyses to be a new species of adenovirus distantly related to the group I avian viruses, serotypes 1 and 4, Aviadenovirus. In situ hybridization and PCR demonstrated that the virus was epitheliotropic and lymphotropic and that infection was systemic in the majority of animals. Adeno-associated virus was also detected by PCR in most affected falcons, but no other infectious agents or predisposing factors were found in any birds. Subsequent to the 1996 epizootic, a similar disease caused by the same adenovirus was found over a 5-year period in orange-breasted falcons (Falco deiroleucus), teita falcons (Falco fasciinucha), a merlin (Falco columbarius), a Vanuatu peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus nesiotes), and gyrfalcon x peregrine falcon hybrids (Falco rusticolus/peregrinus) that died in Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and California. These findings indicate that this newly recognized adenovirus is widespread in western and midwestern North America and can be a primary pathogen in different falcon species.

The Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus in Mesoamerica: a vulnerable, disjunct population?

The Orange-breasted Falcon Falco deiroleucus, among the world's most poorly known falcons, is sparsely distributed in Neotropical forests from south-east Mexico or Guatemala to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Details of distribution and population size are poorly known throughout the species's range. From 1992 to 1997 we studied this species at 19 nest sites in Guatemala and Belize. Occupancy and productivity rates remained stable for this northernmost population over this six-year period. Sparse data on historical distribution preclude a full assessment of possible changes in population status in the Mesoamerican portion of the species's range. Today the species appears restricted to forested areas in conjunction with large nesting cliffs. No breeding record is known for any Mesoamerican nation except Belize and Guatemala. Mean number of fledglings per successful nesting was significantly higher in areas of predominantly forested mosaic habitat (2.11, n = 18) than at sites with uninterrupted mature forest (1.36, n = 11); proportion of sites occupied and of pairs fledging young did not differ between these two habitats. Based on historical and current distribution records and distribution of potential nesting habitat, we conclude that the Guatemala/Belize opulation of Orange-breasted Falcons is disjunct from the species's main range in South America, is perhaps the only local population (at best one of a small number) in Mesoamerica, and is tightly linked to the existence of suitable nesting cliffs combined with large forested areas.

Relationships within the GenusFalco: A Comparison of the Electrophoretic Patterns of Feather Proteins

Variations in feather protein (SCMK) patterns from 36 members of the genus Falco were studied by electrophoresis to examine intrageneric relationships. Little or no polymorphisms were found within species but differences between species enabled identification of groupings of species with similar protein patterns. Eight to ten more-or-less distinct groupings were recognised. Typical kestrels and desert falcons, traditionally considered distinctive groups, were also grouped on the basis of their feather protein patterns The aberrant or grey-backed kestrels were allied to the hobbies and peregrines, rather than the typical kestrels. Hobbies from the Australasian region were not close to Empean and African hobbies. Eleonora's, Sooty and Bat Falcons shared similar patterns as did Brown and New Zealand Falcons and both groups were similar to each other (Gondwanaland falcons). They also resembled the Black and Grey Falcons which in turn resembled Australasian hobbies. The Aplomado Falcon was like the true hobbies while the Orange-breasted Falcon was most like the peregrines but showed similarities to other groups. Protein patterns of Barbary and Teita Falcons seemed closest to the Peregrine Falcon but not identical. Two main groupings were the typical kestrels, desert falcons and merlins, on the one hand, and the remaining Falco on the other. Two centres of origin of modern Falco are proposed for these main groupings: the kestrels, merlins and desert falcons from Africa; and the remaining falcons, earlier, from Gondwanaland.

First Observation of the Orange-Breasted Falcon in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

Journal Article First Observation of the Orange-Breasted Falcon in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Get access John William Hardy, John William Hardy Florida State Museum University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 32611 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Ralph J. Raitt, Ralph J. Raitt Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Jorge Orejuela, Jorge Orejuela Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Thomas Webber, Thomas Webber 523 Davis Avenue Glendale, California 91200 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Bruce Edinger Bruce Edinger 567 Grandview Avenue Suffern, New York 10901 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Condor, Volume 77, Issue 4, 1 October 1975, Page 512, https://doi.org/10.2307/1366110 Published: 01 October 1975 Article history Accepted: 08 April 1974 Published: 01 October 1975