Comparison Photos
The following images demonstrate variation between Orange-breasted Falcon and similar species. For images showing variation among Orange-breasted Falcons, see Species Photos. Also see Video Comparison between Bat Falcon and Orange-breasted Falcon.
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| Orange-breasted Falcon Adult male, May, Belize | Bat Falcon petoensis Adult male, October, Veracruz, Mexico |
Some Bat Falcons are fairly easy to separate from Orange-breasted Falcons on the basis of the much more extensive white throat and bib with thin orange line separating the dark breast, or no line at all. Also note the paler gray overall coloration to the Bat Falcon's upperparts (in bright light), less boldly and more uniformly marked breast and flanks, and relatively smaller head and bill. | |
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| Orange-breasted Falcon Adult female, January, Guatemala | Bat Falcon rufigularis Adult, April, Surinam |
Some Bat Falcons from South America may be appear similar to Orange-breasted Falcons in the upper breast, bib, and throat areas. Note the uniform buffy ochre colorated bib and throat of rufigularis that merges directly with the black barred crop and breast, as opposed to the white throat and bib of petoensis in figure 2. Note that neither has the broad orange crop of Orange-breasted Falcon. Both species appear to exhibit considerable variation and gradation from clear white to buffy ochre throat and bib. | |
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| Orange-breasted Falcon Adult female (left) & male, captive | Bat Falcon petoensis Adult male (left) & female, March, Belize |
| These images illustrate the challenge of using size to identify Orange-breasted Falcon. Each female appears dramatically larger when seen in direct comparison with the male of the same species. On a lone bird, judging the difference in size between a male Orange-breasted Falcon and a female Bat Falcon can be nearly impossible. | |
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| Orange-breasted Falcon Adult, Guatemala | Bat Falcon rufigularis Adult, Surinam |
| Note the extensive ochre coloration to the throat and upper breast of the rufigularis Bat Falcon. Orange-breasted Falcon do not show this uniform coloration to the chin throat and upper breast. Even on this backlit Orange-breasted Falcon, one can make out some contrast between the white throat and the orange upper breast. | |
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| Orange-breasted Falcon Juvenile female (captive) | Peregrine Falcon cassini Juvenile female (captive) |
| Some cassini Peregrine Falcons can appear similar to Orange-breasted Falcons. Note the Orange-breasted Falcon's proportionately larger feet with longer toes. Orange-breasted also has a more extensive and unmarked orange crescent that comes up behind the auriculars. | |
