Laughing Falcon

Herpetotheres cachinnans

Call sounds like hysterical laughter echoing through the forest. Specializes almost entirely in snakes.

Population: At least 500,000 mature individuals, believed decreasing
Habitat: Semi-open treed landscapes — forest edges, gallery forest, palm savanna, and scattered-tree country; avoids dense unbroken forest interior; occurs from sea level up to ~2,400 m (typically below 800-1,500 m in most of its range)
Fun fact: The Laughing Falcon is a snake specialist that hunts by scanning from a high open perch and then dropping on snakes — including venomous coral snakes — with a quick, often audible strike to the head; its far-carrying, laughter-like call has led Ch'ol Maya healers to imitate it in rituals to treat snakebite.
Range: Mexico (southern Sonora/San Luis Potosí) south through Central America and across most of South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina), excluding Chile and Uruguay
Diet: Snake specialist (including venomous species such as coral snakes), also takes lizards, small rodents, bats, and fish
Size: 0.5 m
Wingspan: 0.86 m
Lifespan: 14 years

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