The Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It is mainly resident, but some birdsdisperse more widely after the breeding season.
It is a bird of open country and savannah. It lays 3-4 eggs on a cliff ledge nest, or occasionally in an old stick nest in a tree.
Lanner Falcon is a large falcon, at 43-50cm length with a wingspan of 95-105cm. It is like a large Peregrine Falcon in general structure. It usually hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's stoop from a height, and takes mainly bird prey in flight.
European Lanner Falcons have slate grey or brown-grey upperparts, but the African birds are a paler blue grey above. The breast is streaked, but the belly is whitish, unlike Saker Falcon.
Sexes are similar, but the browner young birds resemble Saker. However, they never show the all-dark thighs of the larger species. The call is a harsh wray-e.
Peregrine Falcons, the fastest creatures on Earth, are said to have reached stoop speeds of up to 200 mph.
Some small insectivorous falcons with long narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which sometimes hover as they hunt for small rodents are called kestrels.
The falcons are part of the family Falconidae, which also includes the caracaras, Laughing Falcon, forest falcons, and falconets.
Feeds |
Contact