(Category:Falco) |
|||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Young birds are also like a large juvenile Hobby, but the pale underparts contrast with darker wingtips and wing coverts. | Young birds are also like a large juvenile Hobby, but the pale underparts contrast with darker wingtips and wing coverts. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Europe and Africa: As a breeding bird confined to the Western Palearctic, mainly in the Mediterranean, especially Greece, with a few colonies in the Atlantic. The world population is thought to be around 4-5000 pairs. Outside the Mediterranean breeds on a few islets north of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, where declining, and at two colonies on the coast of Morocco, one at Mogador Island off Essaouira. In Spain breeds on the Balearics, where increasing, and elsewhere. There are colonies on the west coast of Italy and on islets off Sicily but the majority of Italian birds are on Sardinia. Small numbers breed in one or two colonies in the Adriatic, notably on the Tremiti Islands off Italy and on islands off Croatia. The Greek islands hold more than half the world population with most colonies on the Cyclades and on and around Crete and smaller numbers on Limnos and the Sporades. There are also small numbers on Turkish islands and three colonies on Cyprus. In Mediterranean North Africa there are colonies in Algeria on the Iles Habibas, on an islet near Skikda and on the mainland coast of Grande Kabylie. | + | [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]: As a breeding bird confined to the [[Western Palearctic]], mainly in the [[Mediterranean]], especially [[Greece]], with a few colonies in the Atlantic. Most breeding colonies are found in islands, or at least on the coast, more or less unknown as a breeding bird inland. The world population is thought to be around 4-5000 pairs. Outside the Mediterranean breeds on a few islets north of [[Lanzarote]] in the [[Canary Islands]], where declining, and at two colonies on the coast of [[Morocco]], one at Mogador Island off Essaouira. In [[Spain]] breeds on the [[Balearics]], where increasing, and elsewhere. There are colonies on the west coast of [[Italy]] and on islets off [[Sicily]] but the majority of Italian birds are on [[Sardinia]]. Small numbers breed in one or two colonies in the Adriatic, notably on the [[Tremiti Islands]] off Italy and on islands off [[Croatia]]. The Greek islands hold more than half the world population with most colonies on the Cyclades and on and around Crete and smaller numbers on Limnos and the Sporades. There are also small numbers on [[Turkey|Turkish islands]] and three colonies on [[Cyprus]]. In Mediterranean North [[Africa]] there are colonies in [[Algeria]] on the Iles Habibas, on an islet near Skikda and on the mainland coast of Grande Kabylie. |
| + | |||
| + | The Eleonora's Falcon is a long distance migrant, spending northern winters in [[Madagascar]]. Most texts will indicate that migration passes through the Red Sea and the [[Middle East]]; however, it seems that at least western Mediterranean birds migrate somewhat straight south over the Sahara until they hit tropical Africa, where the direction shifts to east to south-east<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | This is a monotypic species<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>. | |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Breeds in colonies on rocky cliffs of uninhabited islands or remote and undisturbed mainland coasts. Usually seen hunting over the sea but also over marshes and freshwater lakes. | Breeds in colonies on rocky cliffs of uninhabited islands or remote and undisturbed mainland coasts. Usually seen hunting over the sea but also over marshes and freshwater lakes. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
This is a late-summer breeder that feeds its young on migrating passerines. | This is a late-summer breeder that feeds its young on migrating passerines. | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | # [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=126609 Thread] in Birdforum discussing results of a satellite/radio tagging experiment of Spanish birds. | ||
| + | # Clements, James F. 2007. ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World''. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019 | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Falco+eleonorae}} | {{GSearch|Falco+eleonorae}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Falco | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Falco]] |
Revision as of 02:18, 8 November 2008
- Falco eleonorae
Considered Endangered
Identification
The Eleonora's Falcon is an elegant bird of prey, 36-42 cm long with an 87-104 cm wingspan. It is like a large Hobby or a small slender Peregrine Falcon, with its long pointed wings, long tail and slim body. There are two colour phases. The adult dark morph is all dark brown, with black underwing coverts. The light morph is more like a juvenile Hobby, but has buff underparts, and also shows the contrast between the black underwing coverts and paler base to the flight feathers.
Young birds are also like a large juvenile Hobby, but the pale underparts contrast with darker wingtips and wing coverts.
Distribution
Europe and Africa: As a breeding bird confined to the Western Palearctic, mainly in the Mediterranean, especially Greece, with a few colonies in the Atlantic. Most breeding colonies are found in islands, or at least on the coast, more or less unknown as a breeding bird inland. The world population is thought to be around 4-5000 pairs. Outside the Mediterranean breeds on a few islets north of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, where declining, and at two colonies on the coast of Morocco, one at Mogador Island off Essaouira. In Spain breeds on the Balearics, where increasing, and elsewhere. There are colonies on the west coast of Italy and on islets off Sicily but the majority of Italian birds are on Sardinia. Small numbers breed in one or two colonies in the Adriatic, notably on the Tremiti Islands off Italy and on islands off Croatia. The Greek islands hold more than half the world population with most colonies on the Cyclades and on and around Crete and smaller numbers on Limnos and the Sporades. There are also small numbers on Turkish islands and three colonies on Cyprus. In Mediterranean North Africa there are colonies in Algeria on the Iles Habibas, on an islet near Skikda and on the mainland coast of Grande Kabylie.
The Eleonora's Falcon is a long distance migrant, spending northern winters in Madagascar. Most texts will indicate that migration passes through the Red Sea and the Middle East; however, it seems that at least western Mediterranean birds migrate somewhat straight south over the Sahara until they hit tropical Africa, where the direction shifts to east to south-east1.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species2.
Habitat
Breeds in colonies on rocky cliffs of uninhabited islands or remote and undisturbed mainland coasts. Usually seen hunting over the sea but also over marshes and freshwater lakes.
Behaviour
This is a late-summer breeder that feeds its young on migrating passerines.
References
- Thread in Birdforum discussing results of a satellite/radio tagging experiment of Spanish birds.
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
