like an Accipiter hawk than most of its falcon relatives, with short, rounded wings and a long tail. Subspecies H. c. fulvescens has the same plumage pattern as the nominate but is darker and richer colored overall; its underside is more cinnamon buff than creamy white. Distribution and habitat The nominate subspecies of the laughing falcon is by far the more widespread. It is found from southern Sonora and San Luis Potosi south through Central America, "exiting" through northeastern Pamama into northern Colombia. In South America its range continues east through Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south, east of the Andes through Ecuador, Peru, Boliva, and Paraguay into northeastern Argentina, and in most of Brazil. Subspecies H. c. fulvescens is found from Panama's Darién Province south through western Colombia and western Ecuador into northwestern Peru as far as the Department of Lambayeque. The laughing falcon inhabits a wide variety of semi-open treed landscapes, shunning the interior of dense forest. It is found in primary evergreen and deciduous forest, gallery forest, secondary forest, palm groves, and savanna and other open areas with some trees or forest patches. It is generally a bird of the lowlands, from sea level up. It reaches in most of Central America though it occurs locally to in Costa Rica. It reaches in Colombia but usually is much lower. It occurs mostly below in Ecuador, in Peru, and in Bolivia. Behavior General The laughing falcon's flight is slow, with quick, shallow wingbeats interspersed with glides; the bird rarely if ever soars. It flicks its tail up and down when it lands. It frequently perches conspicuously on a branch for hours, sitting upright and observing the ground alertly, sometimes flicking its tail or nodding, or moving around a bit on its perch with slow steps. Movement The laughing falcon is a year-round resident throughout its range. Feeding The laughing falcon mainly feeds on snakes, including venomous ones such as coral snakes, and some large ones as well. In secondary forest and other disturbed habitats, it also feeds on lizards, small rodents, bats, and fish; there are a few records of its feeding on birds and centipedes. It usually hunts from a perch, dropping or pouncing on its prey "with an audible thud". It carries the food to a perch to eat, with small snakes in its bill and large ones