(Part of the) common name of many species of the family Falconidae (Falconiformes, suborder Falcones). In the plural the general term for Falco spp. or loosely for the whole family. The family can be divided into the subfamilies Falconinae or 'true falcons' (including 'kestrels'), Daptriinae or 'caracaras' and Herpetotherinae or 'forest falcons'. The true falcons are cosmopolitan in distribution and comprise the genus Falco of typical falcons (not very homogeneous and divided into several subgenera) and three genera of very small falcons, the smallest of all birds-of-prey, represented only in the tropics. The typical falcon appearance is dark above with white underparts. Large true falcons (large Falco spp.) are relatively short and strongly built birds with pointed wings and short tail, and with an exceptionally swift flight. They kill their prey, principally birds, in full flight in an attack of great speed. If necessary they can kill it on the ground. Occasionally they also take small mammals, flying insects, termites and locusts. True falcons don't build their own nests, but appropriate the old nest of another bird or breed in a scrape on rock crags. The well-known Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus is a typical example and one of the world's most successful birds (in a DDT-free environment). It has a cosmopolitan distribution (17 subspecies!) and is often used in falconry. The subgroup of kestrels is a large group of small falcons (also cosmopolitan) with the habit of hovering with gently fanning wings when looking for prey, which are mainly small mammals and big insects taken on the ground (or in long grass). The plumage is mainly chestnut and grey with black spots in the male and pale reddish-brown with black streaks and bars in the female. Many kestrels are strongly gregarious when migrating, but breed well apart. The hobbies form another subgroup of small, long-winged falcons (cosmopolitan in distribution) which catch all prey on the wing and live largely upon insects, but can take some small birds. The forest falcons are more hawk- or harrier-like and are relatively long-legged and -tailed, and with a partial facial ruff. They are adapted to life in dense forests and occur only in tropical South America (Neotropical distribution), where they prey on birds. The Neotropical caracaras are large (buzzard-sized) long-legged birds that look unlike true falcons. They are insecti- or omnivorous with a strong taste for carrion and are rather sluggish birds, spending much of their time perched or walking about on the ground. They often associate with vultures at carrion. Unlike true falcons they build their own nests.

Alternative forms for falcons : Falco, falcon, hobbies, kestrel, kestrels.