This is a list of Falconiformes species by global population. While members of Falconiformes were once classified with the hawks, eagles, vultures, and kites of order Accipitriformes, recent genetic analysis indicates they are not close relatives of these birds. Version 15.1 of the IOC World Bird List describes 65 species within Falconiformes, two of which are extinct. As of December 2025, BirdLife International has assessed 64 of these species (excepting rock kestrel). While not all of these species have had their populations quantified, species without estimates are also listed below in a separate table.

While numbers are estimates, they have been made by the experts in their fields. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on population biology and population ecology.

There are two species listed as members of Falconiformes which are extinct. They are as follows:

Guadalupe caracara (Caracara lutosa) - last recorded in 1903. Réunion kestrel (Falco duboisi) - species is mentioned by early explorers, but went extinct sometime after 1674.

Species by global population Common nameBinomial namePopulationStatusTrendNotesImage Mauritius kestrel Falco punctatus 140-170 Taita falcon Falco fasciinucha 500-1,000 Grey falconFalco hypoleucos500-10,000Best estimate for population size is 1,000 mature individuals. Banded kestrel Falco zoniventris 670-6,700* *Values provided are from the 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2025 lists the total population as Unknown. Philippine falconet Microhierax erythrogenys 670-6,700* *Values provided are from the 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2025 lists the total population as Unknown. Pied falconet Microhierax melanoleucos 670-6,700* *Values provided are from the 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2025 lists the total population as Unknown. White-throated caracara Phalcoboenus albogularis 670–6,700* *The population size has not been quantified. Values provided are from 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2023 lists the total population as Unknown. Black caracaraDaptrius ater 670-6,700* *The population size has not been quantified. Values provided are from 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2023 lists the total population as Unknown. Carunculated caracaraPhalcoboenus carunculatus 670-6,700* *The population size has not been quantified. Values provided are from 2016 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2023 lists the total population as Unknown. Black falcon Falco subniger 670-6,700 Seychelles kestrel Falco araeus 700-900 Minimum estimate. Oriental hobbyFalco severus 1,000-10,000 The current population size is considered unknown; values provided are a preliminary estimate which is likely too low. Striated caracara Phalcoboenus australis 2,500-5,000 Sooty falcon Falco concolor 2,800-4,000 Plumbeous forest falconMicrastur plumbeus3,600-5,000Population estimation assumes species density across its range is the same as have been observed in Colombia (1 individual/km2). New Zealand falcon Falco novaeseelandiae 5,000-15,000 Orange-breasted falcon Falco deiroleucus 5,000-25,000 Fox kestrel Falco alopex 6,700-67,000 African hobbyFalco cuvierii>10,000IUCN does not estimate a population, but does mention a previous population estimate from 2001 – "larger than 10,000 individuals." White-fronted falconet Microhierax latifrons 10,000-19,999 Laggar falcon Falco jugger 10,000-19,999 White-rumped pygmy falcon (White-rumped falcon)Neohierax insignis 10,000-19,999* *The population size has not been quantified. Values provided are from 2017 IUCN assessment. A more recent assessment from 2024 lists the total population as Unknown. Collared falconetMicrohierax caerulescens10,000-99,999IUCN assessment does not provide a direct estimate, but says, "population is estimated to number in the tens of thousands."Black-thighed falconetMicrohierax fringillarius10,000-99,999IUCN assessment does not provide a direct estimate, but says, "population is estimated to number in the tens of thousands."Spotted kestrelFalco moluccensis10,000-99,999IUCN assessment does not provide a direct estimate, but says, "population is estimated to number in the tens of thousands." Saker falcon Falco cherrug 12,200-29,800 Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus 12,600-55,300 Eleonora's falcon Falco eleonorae 32,400-33,300 Slaty-backed forest falconMicrastur mirandollei50,000-499,999 Lanner falcon Falco biarmicus 67,000-670,000 Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni 80,000-134,000 Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus 100,000-499,999 Prairie falconFalco mexicanus110,000 Amur falcon Falco amurensis 200,000-667,000 Merlin Falco columbarius 250,000-3,200,000 Red-footed falcon Falco vespertinus 287,500-400,000 Bat falcon Falco rufigularis 500,000-4,999,999 Barred forest falcon Micrastur ruficollis 500,000-4,999,999 Collared forest falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 500,000-4,999,999 Laughing falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans 500,000-4,999,999 Red-throated caracaraIbycter americanus500,000-4,999,999 Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo 900,000-1,500,000 Cryptic forest falconMicrastur mintoni1,000,000-2,499,999Crested caracaraCaracara plancus2,500,000-4,999,999 Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus 4,300,000-6,700,000 Note that the IUCN has not recognized the split of the Rock kestrel from this species. Yellow-headed caracaraMilvago chimachima5,000,000-49,999,999American kestrelFalco sparverius9,200,000

Species without population estimates Common nameBinomial namePopulationStatusTrendNotesImageSpot-winged falconetSpiziapteryx circumcinctaunknownChimango caracaraDaptrius chimangounknownPopulation is expected to be increasing due to this species' affinity for human settlements, especially feeding from garbage dumps.Mountain caracaraDaptrius megalopterusunknownLined forest falconMicrastur gilvicollisunknownBuckley's forest falconMicrastur buckleyiunknownAfrican pygmy-falcon (Pygmy falcon)Polihierax semitorquatusunknownMalagasy kestrelFalco newtoniunknownNankeen kestrelFalco cenchroidesunknownGreater kestrelFalco rupicoloidesunknownDickinson's kestrelFalco dickinsoniunknownRed-necked falconFalco ruficollisunknownAplomado falconFalco femoralisunknownAustralian hobbyFalco longipennisunknownBrown falconFalco berigoraunknown

See also

Lists of birds by population Lists of organisms by population

References