A remarkable new species of small falcon from the Quaternary of Cuba (Aves: Falconidae : Falco)

An enigmatic small falcon, Falco kurochkini, new species, is described from postcranial bones from several Quaternary sites in western and central Cub a. It was approximately intermediate in size between F. sparverius and F. c olumbarius but had proportionately longer and more slender leg elements tha n any living species of Falco. It is hypothesized that F. kurochkini may ha ve been terrestrial, pursuing prey on foot, and that its extinction could h ave been related to terrestrial nesting habits as well.