Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
WILD STATUS
Endangered.
DISTRIBUTION
Western Europe to North Korea, and from the southern border of the Siberian taiga forest to the deserts and elevated steppes of Middle Asia and Tibet.
SIZE
47-55cm (18”) tall with a wingspan of 105-129cm (3.5 to 4’).
HABITAT
Their preferred habitats are open plains and forest steppes.
REPRODUCTION
This species usually builds no nest of its own, but lays its 3-6 eggs on the ground or in an old stick nest in a tree which was previously used by other large birds such as crows, ravens or buzzards. However, it is known to have occasionally laid eggs in nests built on cliffs.
DIET
The Saker Falcon preys on small birds and medium-sized rodents such as rats, voles, and chipmunks.
INTERESTING TIDBITS
- Saker Falcons have brown upper bellies and contrasting grey flight feathers. The head and underparts are paler brown, with streaking from the breast down.
- They are fierce hunters and often attack prey that is bigger than they are themselves.
- Female Saker Falcons are more ferocious than males and so are preferred by Falconers for hunting.
- They have no natural enemies in the wild except humans.
- The species faces pressure from both habitat loss and illegal capture for falconry. The population was estimated to be between 7,200 and 8,800 mature individuals in 2004.
- Their call is a sharp “kiy-ee”.
ANIMAL FACT SHEET
To download the information from this page and receive a full page photo of the Saker Falcon click here for a PDF.
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Home