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Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus
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28 - 34cm
65 - 75cm
115 - 200g
10 - 12 yrs
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The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), historically known as the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is closely related to the Amur falcon, which was once known as the eastern red-footed falcon and therefore considered a subspecies. “Vespertinus” means something that it “of the evening”, perhaps referring to its hunting habits or dusky colouration.
Near Threatened
NT
Its size and shape is said to be somewhere between that of a kestrel and a hobby – in fact, it is thought to be a close relative of the merlin. The male is a uniform blue-grey in colour besides its namesake red legs. The female, however, has an orange-brown head and underparts as well as a white face with black facial markings.
What Does it Look Like?
What Does it Sound Like?
They have been observed becoming especially vocal around nesting sites. Due to their similarity, the call is said to be comparable to that of the kestrel or hobby, being a rattling “kekekeke” or “kew kew kew kew” with each repetition falling in pitch. They also have a “begging” call of sorts, which is a squeaky whimpering in various forms.
They have been observed becoming especially vocal around nesting sites. Due to their similarity, the call is said to be comparable to that of the kestrel or hobby, being a rattling “kekekeke” or “kew kew kew kew” with each repetition falling in pitch. They also have a “begging” call of sorts, which is a squeaky whimpering in various forms.
What Does it Eat?
Where Does it Nest?
The red-footed falcon tends to make use of an abandoned corvid nest, such as that built by a rook or magpie. However, habitat destruction has been so severe that many now depend on artificial nest boxes provided by conservationists. Between 2 and 4 eggs are incubated by the female, who has been shown to vigorously defend the nest from attackers.
It can be found broadly across central and eastern Europe, but breeds throughout Russia and Ukraine. As a migratory bird, its range also extends into areas of southern Africa such as Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. They usually keep to steppe-type habitats, preferring open country by bodies of water, where there is only a moderate amount of tree cover.
Where Does it Live?
What is its Status?
The population is in such sharp decline that it has been suggested their status be further upgraded to an endangered category. Agricultural development has increased tree-felling and pesticide use, forcing the species from key breeding sites in Hungary and Kazakhstan. They are also hunted during migration, with over 50 birds once found shot dead in Cyprus.
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