Desert falcon
| Desert falcon | ||||||||||||
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Desert falcon ( Falco pelegrinoides ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Falco pelegrinoides | ||||||||||||
| Temminck , 1829 |
The desert falcon ( Falco pelegrinoides ) is a species from the falcon-like family . The systematic assignment of this species is still controversial. Some authors see the desert falcon as a subspecies of the peregrine falcon .
Appearance
The desert falcon is a medium-sized representative of the falcon , whose body size corresponds to that of a crow . In its appearance it is largely similar to the peregrine falcon, but with a body size of 34 to 40 centimeters and a wingspan of 76 to 100 centimeters, it is somewhat smaller than this. As is typical for falcons, the female is significantly larger than the male.
The upper body of the adult desert falcon is a paler gray-blue than that of the peregrine falcon. In contrast to the peregrine falcon, the crown and neck are rust-colored, while the peregrine falcon is always blue-gray. In contrast to the white cheeks of the peregrine falcon, the cheeks of the ad. Desert hawks appear pink. The underside of the body appears lighter due to finer bands.
Apart from body size, there is no sexual dimorphism : males and females are similar in their body plumage. Fledglings have a brownish colored upper surface and are striped, not banded, on the lower body. These vertical stripes (dotted lines) are somewhat finer and therefore appear lighter than in young birds of the nominate form and the southern European form Faloc p. brokeii, but as with the peregrine falcon there are strong individual variations.
Distribution area and way of life
It breeds inside and outside of the Western Palearctic in little-known breeding sites on the Canary Islands and in the North African inland Algeria , Mali and on the West African Atlantic coast (nominate form P. peligrinoides). An eastern subspecies F. pelegrinoides babylonicus is found in West and Central Asia from Iran to Tianshan. It is predominantly a stationary bird , possibly a barricade . However, Egyptian breeding birds migrate to Sudan outside of the breeding season. The desert hawk is a bird of semi-deserts and arid hill country. But also inhabits rocky coasts along the Atlantic and rivers, for example the Nile. Breeding biology incompletely known. Time: March – April, 2-3 eggs. It mostly breeds on narrow ledges.
