Microhierax meridionalis Grant, Ibis (1897), 220; Sharpe, Hand-List
(1899), 1, 273; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 44.
Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao (Everett, Koch &
Schadenberg, Steere Exp., Celestino, Goodfellow); Samar (Whitehead,
Bourns & Worcester).
"Adult male.--Similar to the male of M. erythrogenys, but considerably
larger; the under wing-coverts and inner webs of the primaries
uniform black; and belly, vent, and under tail-coverts washed with
pale fulvous. Length, 165; wing, 113; tail, 66; culmen (from cere
to tip), 13; tarsus, 22. The type of the male is from Zamboanga,
southern Mindanao.
"Adult female.--Similar to the male, but larger. Length, 183; wing,
117; tail, 70; culmen (from cere to tip), 13; tarsus, 22. The type
of the female is from the Island of Samar." (Grant.)
Grant's falconet is a species of doubtful validity, but the name may be
retained until more specimens have been examined. In M. erythrogenys
the white bars on the primaries are due to immaturity and are not
characteristic of the typical adult male.
Genus FALCO Linnæus, 1758.
Bill stout, culmen strongly curved from front of cere to tip; a
well-marked tooth in edge of upper mandible; wings long and pointed,
second primary longest, the first and third but little shorter; first
primary with a deep notch near its tip; legs, feet, and claws strong,
middle toe long; tarsus covered on all sides with small hexagonal
scales. The falcons are powerful birds, strong and rapid in flight,
and easily recognized by the rapid motion of the wings.
Species.
a1. Much larger; wing more than 300 mm.
b1. Light color from breast extending forward below ear-coverts and
partly separating a blackish band on side of throat from black of
side of head. ... peregrinus (p. 240)
b2. Light color of breast not invading the auricular region, the
entire side of head, sides of throat, and ear-coverts being black.
c1. Bars on under parts black and close-set; flanks,
thighs, abdomen, and under tail-coverts washed with smoky
blue-gray. ... ernesti (p. 242)
c2. Less closely barred below; under parts not washed with smoky
blue-gray. ... melanogenys (p. 241)
a2. Much smaller; wing less than 250 mm. ... severus (p. 243)