The Pallid Color Morph of Falco peregrinus cassini: A History of Former Studies, a Summary of Recent work, and Projections for Future Work

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

Fort Collins, Colorado

Encuentro; Raptor Research Foundation Annual Meeting; 2010

Raptor Reserch Foundation

Three decades ago there was a surge in efforts to study the Pallid Falcon (then also known as Tierra del Fuego Falcon, Kleinschmitt’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 and 1982, several eyries were found in southern Argentina and Chile with various combinations of pallid and normal adults and young. From phenotype frequencies of offspring and parents came the conclusion that Pallid Falcons are homozygous recessive expressions of a single pair of genes. With that discovery, Pallid Falcon research ceased for nearly three decades. Only recently have Pallid Falcon studies (outlined in this paper) begun anew. From our 2009 survey in Patagonia, we present eyrie occupancy rates after a 29 year hiatus. We also illustrate the wide range in plumage variation in pallid and “normal” peregrines from Patagonia and discuss food preferences and reproductive rates. We also present preliminary results on exposure to selected avian pathogens and discuss conservation needs.