Saker Falcon

Falco cherrug

The Saker Falcon is a majestic bird of prey known for its swift flight and keen eyesight. It has beautiful brown and white feathers and a sharp beak for catching small animals.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Saker Falcon has a creamy white head with faint streaks and a broad, brown back. Its underside is pale with dark streaks, and it lacks the strong malar stripe seen on many other falcons, making its face appear lighter.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderFalconiformesFamilyFalconidaeGenusFalco

Saker Falcon

Interesting facts

Saker Falcons often nest in old stick nests of other large birds, like eagles, instead of building their own.

Some Saker Falcons hunt cooperatively, with one flushing prey while the other ambushes it!

Their name 'Saker' comes from an old Arabic word, meaning 'falcon,' showing their historical importance.

These falcons can be trained for falconry, a traditional sport where they hunt alongside humans.

Special abilities

Saker Falcons can fly incredibly fast horizontally, which helps them chase down quick prey across open plains.

Saker Falcons have exceptionally sharp vision that helps them spot tiny prey from very high in the sky.

Saker Falcons have strong, gripping talons that help them capture and hold onto medium-sized prey.

Measurements & details

Length: 47-55 cm
Wingspan: 105-129 cm
Weight: 0.7-1.3 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Top Speed: 200 km/h
Clutch Size: 2-6
Incubation: 30-32 days

Diet & Feeding

Saker Falcons are swift carnivores that mostly hunt rodents and medium-sized birds.

Primary Foods

ground squirrels
voles
gerbils
pigeons
larks
partridges

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Yellow ground squirrel

Spermophilus fulvus

Main prey in many parts of its range.

hunts

Rock Dove

Columba livia

Common avian prey, especially near human settlements.

hunts

Common Vole

Microtus arvalis

Important part of their diet in grasslands.

eaten by

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Bubo bubo

Preys on Saker nestlings and fledglings.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Steppe

This habitat trait describes species found in steppes, which are dry, treeless grasslands characterized by extreme seasonal temperature variations and low precipitation.