Lifer 655 – Bat Falcon – Reflections of the Natural World

Over the past 40 years I have had the good fortune to photographically document 85% of the bird species added to my “Life List.” This blog series showcases the images and anecdotal accounts that document those “Lifer” sightings and a little about the environment and culture of the area. This Lifer blog series begins with my first LIFER outside of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically forward from there.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

@ Zona Arqueológica Calakmul, Campeche, MX

Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) > Falconidae > Falconiformes

**Lifer Photo** @ Zona Arqueológica Calakmul, Campeche, MX

IDENTIFICATION: Dashing small falcon of tropical lowlands and foothills. Prefers forest edge, adjacent semi-open areas with tall trees, buildings. Found at several Maya ruins in Mexico and northern Central America, also locally in towns. Looks dark overall with a contrasting white or buffy-orange throat, and in flight can be confused with White-collared Swift. With a good view, note the rusty belly and ‘trousers.’ Hunts bats at dusk, but main food is small birds caught in flight.

FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: My wife Maria
Date: 04 Dec 2021 @ Chichen Itzá, Yucatan, MX
Chichén Itzá, San Felipe Nuevo MX-YUC 20.68281, -88.57207 | MX-YUC

SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting

DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: Perhaps at the top of our list of locations to visit was the globally famous Archeological Zone of Chichén Itzá. To date, I had no issues anywhere we went as far as my single pice of photography gear, my camera (with a really big lens). We arrived early to the entrance area and I immediately got excited because I could see a pair of Bat Falcons sitting on the big antenna at the entrance area. HOWEVER, as I watched the photographer in line in front of me just about get into a physical confrontation with the security guards I realized they weren’t going to allow me entrance with my “Professional Gear”. So after I calmed down a little, I knew I wasn’t going to leave my expensive gear in the car and I wasn’t going to miss the biggest attraction, so I rented a locker space for the day. We absolutely loved the ruins, but I couldn’t shake the anxiety of hoping my gear would still be there when we left. In the end, all was well. Unfortunately, when we left the falcons were no longer at the antenna. Fortunately I did see the Bat Falcon at Calakmul in Campeche, Burgos in Quintana Roo and 2 spots in Belize.

BACKGROUND ABOUT THE CHICHéN ITZá ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONE

Park-like setting on the trail from the entrance kiosk.

Chichen Itzá is a complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. A massive step pyramid, known as El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan, dominates the ancient city, which thrived from around 600 A.D. to the 1200s. Graphic stone carvings survive at structures like the ball court, Temple of the Warriors and the Wall of the Skulls.

PHOTOS TAKEN:

As explained above, we were unable to photograph our Lifer sighting of the two Bat Falcons at Chichén Itzá. All images below were taken at different locations and are labeled, (Zona Arqueológica Calakmul, Campeche, MX, Burgos, Quintana Roo, Pook’s Hill, Belize).