Identification : Dark back and head with dark moustache stripe under eyes. Rust coloured face and chestnut underparts. Sicle shaped wings in flight.
Falcons, kestrels and hobbys are small to medium sized birds and are extremely swift and agile in flight and have aerodynamic wings. They are very good aerial hunters and strike prey in mid air. Females are generally larger than the males. Sixteen species occur in the southern Africa region.(family Falconidae)
Size : 30cm with wingspan 70-90cm
Diet : no info available
Habitat : Open woodlands, forests and
adjoining open country. Rare in north and north east. Resident in north but vagrant populations in south east.
Breeding : no info available
Size : 36cm with wingspan 80-117cm
Diet : Hunts from tall perches. Catches birds in flight.
Breeding : Late winter to early summer. Breeds on tall cliffs. Three to Four well marked eggs which hatch after 4 weeks. Fledgling after 6 weeks.
Habitat : Found along tall cliffs alone or in pairs.
More widespread in Zimbabwe. Resident and migrant populations.
Size : 40cm with wingspan 90-115cm
Diet : Hunts from perches or whilst in flight. Eats birds, insects, lizards, rats and mice.
Habitat : Common resident found throughout
region in open environments. Decreasing in some regions due to poisoning.
Identification : Brown crown with black moustache stripe below eyes. Grey underparts with sicle shaped wings in flight.
Breeding : Late winter. Breeds on cliffs, in trees and on pylons. Two to Five well marked eggs which hatch after 5 weeks. Fledgling after 6 weeks.
Identification : Black back and head with moustache stripe below eyes. Barred underparts with sicle shaped wings in flight.
F A L C O N S
African Hobby (Falco cvierii)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)