El Halcón más raro del mundo: La forma pálida del Halcón Peregrino austral

DAVID H. ELLIS; MIGUEL D. SAGGESE; R. WAYNE NELSON; ISABEL C. CABALLERO; ANA TREJO; AGUSTÍN IE. QUAGLIA

AECCA Anuario

Gráficas La Robla S.L

Lugar: La Robla, León, España; Año: 2011 p. 96 - 112

1695-0356

Three decades ago there was a surge in efforts to determine the taxonomic affinities of the Pallid Falcon (then also known as Tierra del Fuego Falcon, Kleinschmidt’s Falcon, and (Falco kreyenborgi). At that time, only a handful of specimens were known to science. In 1979, the bird was first photographed in the wild. In 1980, a recently fledged Pallid Falcon was found in a brood of Peregrine Falcons (F. peregrinus cassini) and a mixed pallid-normal pair (albeit without offspring) was found. Finally, in 1981, several eyries were found in southern Argentina and Chile with various combinations of pallid and normal adults and young. Phenotype frequencies of offspring and parents led to the conclusion that Pallid Falcons are homozygous recessive expressions of a single pair of genes (or gene cluster). With that discovery, Pallid Falcon research nearly ceased for almost three decades. Only recently have Pallid Falcon studies (outlined in this paper) begun anew. From our 2009 survey in Argentinean Patagonia, we present eyrie occupancy rates after a 29 year hiatus. We illustrate the hyper-variability of plumage in Peregrines from Patagonia and discuss food preferences and reproductive rates. We discuss the need for molecular genetics research to identify rare alleles and differentiate races across South America. We also present plans to determine exposure levels to selected avian pathogens and parasites and environmental contaminants. Finally, we discuss conservation options to promote survival, especially of the rare pallid morph.