- Falco chicquera
Photo taken: Namibia
Identification
Red-headed Falcon (Red-headed Merlin) Falco chicquera
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. In Africa occurs from Senegal and Gambia east to southern Sudan and south-west Ethiopia and south to the Cape but absent from the forests of West and Central Africa and much of Angola. Asian range extends from southern Iran and Pakistan to India and Bangladesh. Common in Asia but uncommon or rare in African range. Resident
Taxonomy
Three races are recognised: nominate race in Asia, ruficollis from Senegal to East Africa and horsbrughi in southern Africa.
Habitat
In Africa occurs in low-lying, often swampy savanna and appears to be tied to palms, particularly Borassus, for nesting although uses the old nests of crows in southern Africa. Found in dry open country, grassland and cultivated land with scattered trees in Asian range.
