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The beautiful aplomado falcon has a steel grey back, red breast, black "sash" on its belly, and striking black markings on the top of its head, around its eyes, and extending down its face.

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The Northern Aplomado Falcon was most commonly observed and collected in its U.S. range during the period 1870-1930. The falcon seemingly disappeared in the U.S. after the 1930s.  Causes for decline include widespread shrub encroachment resulting from fire suppression and intense overgrazing; agricultural development in grassland habitats; and pesticide exposure, in particular DDT.

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Hindering recovery of the species are factors including long-term drought, continuing shrub encroachment, and predation by great-horned owls. In addition, the falcon’s prey base, mainly smaller grassland birds, is in decline due to overgrazing, drought, and conversion of grassland habitats to agriculture.

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In Texas, Aplomado falcons are found in the South Texas and Trans-Pecos regions. Their geographical distribution extends to the southern tip of South America. The Aplomado Falcon was at the northern limits of its continental range in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western and southern Texas.

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Conservation groups are fighting efforts to strip Endangered Species Act protections from reintroduced populations of Aplomado falcons in New Mexico and West Texas, and they continue to work to protect the birds’ habitat from oil and gas development and livestock grazing.

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Just like any species in our world, the Aplomado Falcon is an important part of our Eco system. It helps control small bird and insect population.

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Since a lot of open land in Texas and New Mexico is private, I would suggest to continue to work with landowners to provide nesting platforms for the birds and monitor the population in hopes that one day these falcons can be removed from the Endangered Species List.