# Lanner Falcon (*Falco biarmicus*) The Lanner Falcon is a beautiful bird of prey known for its speed and grace. It has a striking appearance with a mix of brown and white feathers and loves to soar high in the sky. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Lanner ![Lanner Falcon](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lanner_falcon%252C_Falco_biarmicus%252C_at_Kgalagadi_Transfrontier_Park%252C_Northern_Cape%252C_South_Africa_%2834447024871%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lanner_falcon%252C_Falco_biarmicus%252C_at_Kgalagadi_Transfrontier_Park%252C_Northern_Cape%252C_South_Africa_%2834447024871%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Lanner Falcon has a distinctive rufous (reddish-brown) cap and nape, contrasting with a creamy-white chest and belly. Its back is greyish-blue, and it sports a faint malar stripe, giving it a somewhat less harsh facial pattern than other falcons. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Falconiformes - **Family:** Falconidae - **Genus:** Falco ## Interesting facts - Ancient Egyptians revered Lanner Falcons, sometimes even mummifying them! - Lanner Falcons are skilled at catching birds much larger than themselves mid-flight! - Their calls sound like a sharp 'rek-kek-kek', warning others of their presence! - They build no nest, simply laying eggs in old nests or on cliff ledges! ## Special abilities - **Aerodynamic Ace:** Lanner Falcons can outmaneuver prey mid-air because of their powerful, pointed wings that help them achieve high speeds. - **Eagle Eye Precision:** Lanner Falcons have incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot small prey from very high in the sky. - **Habitat Hoarder:** Lanner Falcons can thrive in diverse environments, from deserts to mountains, because of their flexible hunting strategies. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 43-50 cm - **Wingspan:** 95-115 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 120 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 32-35 days ## Diet & Feeding These fierce hunters mostly eat birds, but also catch small mammals, reptiles, and insects! - **Primary Foods:** Small Birds, Rodents, Insects, Bats, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Eurasian Collared Dove (*Streptopelia decaocto*) — Often targets this common dove in open areas. - **Hunts:** Natal Multimammate Mouse (*Mastomys natalensis*) — Catches these widespread rodents in grasslands. - **Depends on:** Pied Crow (*Corvus albus*) — Uses abandoned nests of these crows for laying eggs. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch birds from a distance and never try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lanner Falcon? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lanner Falcon? 43-50 cm ### What is Lanner Falcon's wingspan? 95-115 cm ### How much does Lanner Falcon weigh? 0.5-1.2 kg ### How long does Lanner Falcon live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Lanner Falcon move? 120 km/h ### What does Lanner Falcon eat? These fierce hunters mostly eat birds, but also catch small mammals, reptiles, and insects! ### Where is Lanner Falcon usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Terra delle Gravine Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/terra-delle-gravine-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Lanner Falcon: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lanner-falcon)