Laughing falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) is found in the tropical areas from the lowlands of Mexico south to northern Argentina. This 18(male) to 22(female) inch bird can be recognized by its white neck and large black streak through the eye. The breast is white, and the wings and tail are brown. The tail has about 4 white bands. We have seen the species named spelled as cachinnans and also as cachinans. Helmut Sick notes this species was famous among the Indians for exterminating snakes. He also notes that this species catches both the false corals and true corals. Sick also notes in Minas Gerais, Bahia it prefers to catch bats.

Both Howard and Moore (2003) and Clements (2007) shows three subspecies. The nominate subspecies is found from Nicaragua to Peru and central Brazil. The subspecies chapmani is found in Central America from Honduras north into Mexico. The final subspecies ssp queribundus is found from eastern Brazil south to Paraguay and northern Argentina and west to eastern Bolivia.

The laughing falcon genus (Herpetotheres) contains a single species found from Central America (Mexico) south into the mainland of South America as far south as Argentina. This large 18 inch (45 cm) male and 22 inch (55 cm) female falcon has a unique color scheme. The neck, throat, breast, and belly is white. The dorsal wings are dark brown. The tail is barred dark and white. There is a large black area on the side of the face that covers the eye and extends back. In flight the underside is very pale, but shows a rectangular barred tail.

There are 5-7 species of falcons that feed primarily on reptiles. This group has been called the forest falcons. They are found from Mexico to Argentina. Two genera belong here:

Herpetotheres - Laughing Falcon - One species
Micrastur - Forest Falcons - Six species

Falcons (Family Falconidae) contains the Caracaras and the Falcons. There are over sixty species in this family. Several sub-families are noted:

Polyborinae Group
Herpetotherinae - live on reptiles - about 5-7 species
Polyborinae -caracara-feed on carrion - about 9-11 species

Falconinae Group
Poliohieracinae - small insect eaters - about 8-9 species
Falconinae - typical falcons - about 35-38 species

Birds of Prey (Order Falconiformes) group contains the eagles, hawks, falcons, Old World vultures, and related birds. The majority of the species in this group feed on small animals, fish, and other birds. A few species eat dead animals. Most of them are excellent fliers and have very strong legs and claws for grasping their prey. There are about 239 species in the hawk and eagle group and about 61 species in the falcon group. When you include the unique osprey and the unique secretary bird, you total about 302 species more or less depending upon a few controversial subspecies.

(The 7 species of New World vultures have recently been placed near the pelicans and storks and were not counted in our 302 number. However, for historical reasons we have left those vultures below here, as our purpose is defining species, and helping users navigate the large number of species.)

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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