FALCO.
Sharp tooth on upper mandible and corresponding notch in lower mandible ; nostrils round, with tubercle in middle; of powerful flight and very bold, capturing prey on wing ; nest on trees, rocks, or ground, nests either self-made or appropriated ; eggs variable but usually blotched and marked with deep orange rufous or reddish brown on a dull white, reddish white, or buff ground. 9 larger than 6.
Falco peregrinus peregrinus Tunstall. PEREGRINE FALCON. Fr. Faucon pelerin ; Ger. Wanderfalke ; Ad. Falcone ; Swed. Pilgrimsfalk.
Above blue slate with obscure dark bars, sooty black on nape, sides of head, and rictal stripe (which is broad and short) ; a narrow tongue of white separates rictal stripe from black of sides of head ; beneath huffy white tinged more or less reddish, chest uniform or with long drop-like streaks, rest of underparts barred or spotted dark brown. Hill slate blue with black tip.
Cere yellow. Tarsus half feathered. Legs and feet yellow, claws black. Iris hazel. Wing 300-330, 4 350-380. Tarsus ci Y Bill 19-20, 4 y Larger, darker above, and more banded below. Young : head and neck browner, crown and nape marked with dull and rufous white ; upper parts NI dark brown with paler margins ; beneath reddish buff with long brown streaks ; cere, legs and feet bluish.
Breeds.—British Isles; Continental Europe from Arctic Islands (Nova Zembla, Jan Mayen, Waigatz) south to Pyrenees, N. Spain, N. Italy, Balkans, and east to Urals. Chiefly resident, but many wander in winter, then occurring Sardinia, Spain, Tunisia, Egypt. Rare visitor Canaries and Faroes.
F. peregrinus calidus Latham. Rictal stripe narrow and tongue of white behind it broader and reaches nearer to eye ; head and bill appear smaller.
An Asiatic race which breeds in N.E. Russia, Petchora and Samara districts ; occasional in winter west to Germany, Albania and Italy ; more abundant S.E. Europe and Egypt.
F. peregrinus brookei Sharpe. Smaller. Wing e (H.). In some a more or less rufous collar on hind neck ; underparts more rufous and more heavily barred.
Breeds.—S. Spain, Morocco (Tangier), Balearic Islands, Liguria, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Greece, Caucasus and Asia Minor to Palestine. Resident.
F. peregrinus pelegrinoides Temminck. Barbary Falcon.
much smaller than d " peregrinus " and with dark bars generally more distinct ; more rufous on crown and hind neck and underparts redder ; breast and even abdomen without drop like markings or only narrow shaft streaks. Wing 273-293. 9 darker above and more spotted below. Wing 315-332 (H.).
Breeds.—N. Africa, Morocco to Egypt, Sahara, Canary Islands; occurs Soudan and Blue Nile in winter.
F. peregrinus anatum Bonaparte. 9 Rictal stripe broader than in " peregrinus " and often joined to ear coverts ; underparts lightly marked and often powdered grey ; difficult to distinguish from adult " peregrinus." Young are much darker, both above and below than young "peregrinus." A N. American race ; has twice occurred in England.
Falco biarmicus tanypterus Schlegel. LANNER FALCON.
6 Crown and hind neck dark vinous buff with narrow streaks ; an indistinct dark stripe over and behind eye ; slight rictal stripe black ; above grey or grey brown with paler or rufous bars ; primaries with complete reddish white bars on inner webs ; beneath buff, chest with dark shaft stripes, rest of underparts with large black spots ; tail barred and tipped reddish buff. Cere, naked patch round eye, legs and feet yellow. Bill bluish with yellow base and black tip. Iris dark brown. Wing 314-325, 9 355-373 (H.). 9 generally darker above. Young above dark grey brown with or without rufous margins, generally browner on crown and nape ; tail with reddish buff bars or spots on inner or both webs of all feathers except central pair ; beneath buff streaked with long hastate brown marks, or brown with buff margins ; some have much chestnut on under wing coverts and axillaries.
Resident.—Egypt and Nubia to Persian Gulf.
Restdent.—Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, specially south slopes of Atlas and deserts to south ; local and rare in S. Spain.
d Crown and nape vinous buff broadly streaked and there fore much darker than in "erlangeri " ; above dark brown barred greyish buff ; rictal stripe narrow ; beneath white generally tinged buff, chin pure white, breast and centre of abdomen with dark brown heart-shaped drops, flanks and thighs barred dark brown ; black bars on quills reaching to inner margin ; darker generally and more uniformly streaked than " tanypterus." Wing d 308 9 345-357, one 373 (H.). Young : above dark brown, spotted buff on centre of each web ; central tail feathers unbarred ; underparts broadly striated.
Breeds.—S. and C. Italy, rare in north, Herzegovina, Albania and Greece to Bulgaria. Chiefly resident.
The typical race " F. b. biarmicus" is S. African. All Lanners have tst primary abruptly emarginated on inner web before the tip and the 2nd narrowed at tip ; this is sometimes indistinct in young.
Falco cherrug cherrug Gray. SAKEI FALCON.
Above brown with reddish buff margins, crown and nape white, generally with rufous buff tinge and streaked (lark brown ; quills white on inner web, with irregular and incomplete dark bars not reaching inner margin ; tail with white or rufous spots on both webs ; beneath white sparsely spotted on breast and more boldly on abdomen and flanks. 9 more boldly spotted on underparts. Wing d 350-372, 4 Tarsus 50-55. Bill from cere, 8' 20-22, 9 24-25.5 (H.). Young closely resemble 9 .
Breeds.—European plains from Danube near Vienna, east through Bulgaria, Rumania, S. Russia, to Turkestan, S.W. Siberia and S.W. Asia ; in Russia north to about 55°. Partly migratory ; occurs in winter in Egypt, Abyssinia, and India ; also S. Italy and occasionally farther west in Europe.
Falco rusticolus rusticolus L. jER-FALCON. Ger. Gerfalke ; Swed. Jagtfalk.
Above slaty brown with pale grey bars, bluish slate on rump, upper tail coverts and tail, which also are barred grey ; hind neck generally with much white ; beneath white with dark drop-like streaks ; tail and flanks barred slaty brown ; 4th primary shorter than Ht. Bill bluish horn, yellowish at base. Cere, legs and feet yellow. a \Ving 350-372. Tarsus 50-61. Bill from cere 23-24. 9 Wing 385-402. Bill from cere 25-27 (\V.). Young : above brown with buff margins, not barred ; tail barred dull buff ; beneath white boldly streaked dark brown ; cere, legs and feet grey.
Resident.—Norway, Sweden, Lapland, N. Russia. Occasional in winter to south as far as Belgium and Germany ; very rare in Britain or farther south in Europe.
F. rusticolus candicans Gmelin. Greenland Falcon.
Very variable irrespective of age ; one form much the same as typical "rusticolus" but larger. There is also a white form : above white with irregular long heavy dark drop-like spots ; quills pure white on inner web, irregularly barred on outer ; tail pure white ; beneath white with a few long black marks. Wing 8' 370-400, Y 400-435. Tarsus d 58-6o, 9 65-70. Bill d' 20-23, 9 26-27.
Resident.—Greenland, Arctic America to Alaska, and N. Siberia. Casual in W. Europe. Recorded Iceland, Faroes, British Isles, Scandinavia, Belgium, W. Germany, France.
F. rusticolus islandus Briinnich. Iceland Falcon. Very similar to "rusticolus" but crown and nape whiter and bars above paler grey ; beneath, spots and streaks finer ; indistinguish able from dark Greenland birds, but no white form. \Ving ,t. 366-380, 4 410-430. Tarsus 57-69. Bill from cerc, d 23-27, 9 26-29 (W.).
Resident.• Iceland ; wanders occasionally south to N.\V. Europe. Recorded Farces, British Isles, France, Switzerland, Holland, Austria.
Falco eleonorm Gen6. ELEONORA'S FALCON.
Has two phases, dark and light.
Dark form : dark slate colour, tinged brown, both above and below. Light form : resembles a Hobby ; above slate colour ; beneath reddish buff striated dark brown, becoming darker and more cinnamon on thighs, vent, and under tail coverts ; throat sometimes white. Bill greyish blue horn, black at tip. Legs and feet sulphur-yellow. Iris deep brown, \Ving d 310-3233 Y 326-338. Tarsus 36. Bill 16. Young : upper parts
dull black with broad rufous margins ; beneath rufous buff, striated, but thighs, etc., not darker.
Preeds.—Cliffs of Greece and Cyclades, Cyprus, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Balearic Islands, S. Spain, Canaries (Fuerte ventura and Lanzarote), Morocco (\V. Coast). Partially migratory ; occurs in winter south as far as Madagascar. Is a late breeder ; fresh eggs found in late July or early in August.
Falco concolor Temminck.
9 Grey throughout, except chin which is buff. Cere and legs yellow. \Ving 9 280.
An African species, resident in small numbers in Lower and Upper Egypt.
Falco subbuteo subbuteo L. HOBBY. Fr. Hobereau ; Ger. Lerchenfalke ; /tel. Lodolaia ; Swed. Larkfalk.
d 9 Above slate grey, darker on head, some white and rufous on hind neck ; tail rounded, central pair feathers longest and uniform, others barred rufous ; rictal stripe black ; beneath white, sometimes reddish buff, broadly striated black, uniform chestnut on abdomen, thighs, vent, and under tail coverts ; 2nd primary longest, 1st between 2nd and 3rd. Bill bluish horn, tip black. Legs, feet, and core yellow. his dark brown. \Ving j 252-266, ? 261-275. Tarsus 34-38. Bill 14-15. Young : above, feathers with narrow dull rufous or reddish grey margins ; beneath as in adult, but abdomen, etc., buff not chestnut.
Breeds.—England and Scotland ; Continental Europe from about 65° N. south to Mediterranean and Islands (chiefly on passage in Mediterranean basin but some winter as well as breed) ; Madeira, Caucasus, Urals to C. Asia. Migrates ; occurs N. Africa on passage, and in winter tropical and S. Africa and Asia, east to India.
F. subbuteo jugurtha Hartert and Neumann. Upper parts paler, abdomen, thighs, etc., paler chestnut. Breeds.—Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia.
Falco columbarius wsalon Tunstall. MERLIN. Fr. Faucon Cmerillon ; Ger. Merlinfalke ; Ital. Smeriglio ; Swed. Stenfalk.
j Above slate colour with black shaft streaks, rufous on hind neck ; tail barred black, tip white with a broad apical black band ; beneath rufous buff with narrow dark streaks, thighs striated ; quills black barred white on inner webs ; 2nd and 3rd primaries longest, 1st about equal to 4th. Bill bluish horn, tip black, base below yellow. Cere yellow. Legs and feet pale yellow. Iris dark 'brown. Wing j 200-210, 210-231. Tarsus 35-38. Bill 11-13. ? Above brown tinged grey, with black shaft streaks, sometimes with rufous bars ; underparts reddish buff with broad brown striations ; quills barred reddish ; under wing coverts, axillaries, and flanks chestnut brown with large white spots. Young very similar to Q.
Breeds.—British Isles, Faroes, Iceland, Continental Europe north of Baltic, N. Russia to about 68°, Swiss Mountains, W. Siberia. Migrates ; occurs on passage in Urals and at Oren burg, also throughout S. Europe and in winter in Egypt, Palestine, N.W. Africa, but many winter in S. Europe and some as far north as British Isles.
F. columbarius pallidus (Suschkin). S Above pale ashy blue, ? paler, more rufous above than ? "msalon." Breeds.—Ural Valleys and Kirghiz Steppes ; occurs N.W. India in winter.
The typical race "F. columbarius columbarius" is American.
Falco vespertinus vespertinus L. RED- FOOTE]) FALCON. Fr. Faucon Kobez ; Ger. Abendfalk ; //a/. Falco cuculo.
Above slate colour ; tail uniform ; primaries with large white spots on inner web ; beneath slaty grey, abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts rusty red ; 2nd primary longest ; tst only sharply marginate towards point on inner web. Bill bright orange, tip dark bluish. Round eye, cere, legs and feet orange. Iris dark brown. \Ving 230-260, 9 23o-253. Tarsus 28-30 (\V.). Bill II-12. 9 Upper parts pale slate with dark bars ; crown, nape, and rictal stripe rufous ; patch under eye black ; below, rusty buff on throat and rusty red on rest of underparts ; tail ashy grey barred black. Bill blue grey, yellow at base. Young : crown grey tinged rufous and with black shaft streaks ; upper parts grey brown with dark bars and whitish or reddish buff margins ; beneath white or yellow buff striated brown ; tail reddish grey with black bars. Bill as in adult 9.
Rreed.c.—E. Europe from Balkan Peninsula through Hungary, north to Poland, all Russia to far north (Archangel), and in W. Siberia. Irregularly occurs farther west in Europe, rare in British Isles. Migrates ; occurs on passage in Egypt and E. Mediterranean, occasionally also in Tunis, Algeria, and rarely in Morocco. Winters in Africa.
Falco naumanni naumanni Fleischer. LESSER KESTREL. Fr. Faucon cresserine ; Ger. Rotelfalk ; Rai. Falco grillaio.
d Above vinaceous chestnut, unspotted ; head, neck, rump, upper tail coverts, tail (black tipped), outer wing coverts and secondaries slate blue ; greater wing coverts chestnut ; beneath reddish buff usually with black spots ; ist and 3rd primaries about equal in length, 2nd longest and emarginate outer web, 1st notched on inner web near tip. Bill dark blue grey, base orange and tip blue black. Core dark yellow. Eyelid dull yellow. Legs and feet yellow, claws paler than in " tinnunculus," usually white but sometimes black. 9 Above rusty red, striped dark on head and neck and barred on hack, tail with about twelve bars, with black subterminal band and buff tips ; beneath rusty buff with dark brown spots. \Ving 220.246, 9 23o-248. Tarsus 30-32. Bill 11-12.
1?reeds.—From Poland south through Austria and Hungary to Greece ; Italy, especially south, Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, N.W. Africa, Steppes of S. Russia north to Orenburg, Caucasus and in W. Asia. Migrates ; occurs in Egypt chiefly on passage, a few breed ; winters in tropical and S. Africa ; rarely occurs in N.\V. Europe, including British Isles.
F. naumanni pekinensis Swinhoe. Greater and part of lesser wing coverts grey with rufous margins.
Eastern Asiatic race ; winters in India and E. and S. Africa ; occurs in Egypt on spring passage.
Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus L. KESTREL. Fr. Faucon cresserelle; Ger. Turmfalk; TM/. Gheppio; Swed. Tornfalk.
e Above vinaceous chestnut with triangular black spots, crown and nape grey with black shaft streaks, upper tail coverts and tail grey, latter tipped white and with a black subterminal band ; beneath deep reddish buff with large dark spots except on abdomen and under tail coverts ; 1st and 2nd primaries notched on inner web at tip, 1st shorter than 3rd. Bill blue horn with black tip. Cere pale yellow. Legs and feet yellow, claws black. Iris dark brown. 9 resembles 9 of "naumanni" but larger.
\Ving 230-248, 9 250-265. Tarsus 39-41. Bill 13-14. Young: like 9, but paler.
Breeds.—Europe, including British Isles, from about 68° in Scandinavia and 61° in Russia to Mediterranean ; N.W. Africa ; also in W. Asia. Migratory in north ; occurs Egypt on passage ; in winter ranges to tropical Africa, India, and China. Breeding birds from NAV. Africa are much more brick red on upper parts approaching Canary Island races, but measure ments arc as in typical form, which certainly occurs there in winter.
F. tinnunculus canariensis Koenig. Smaller and darker than "tinnunculus" ; in j head darker grey with broader streaks ; upper parts more brick red. \Ving j 215-226, 9 226-240 (H.)..
Resident—West Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, I Herm, Palma, Gomera) and Madeira.
F. tinnunculus dacotix I lartert. d Paler brick red than in "canariensis," spots on underparts larger than in "tinnunculus." lighter coloured than 4 " canaricnsis." Wing 214-225, 9 225-250 (H.).
Resident.—E. Canary Islands (Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Allegranza).