Saker Falcon

Saker Falcon.

A large falcon, usually with reddish-yellow tones in its plumage. It has quite large dimensions, reaching up to 60 cm in length. It weighs between one and one and a half kilograms. The wingspan can range from 1 to 1.5 m. Females are larger than males, but they do not differ in appearance. Sexual dimorphism is very weakly expressed.

The Saker Falcon has a rather colorful plumage. Gray individuals with a white tint or brown ones with a reddish tint are more commonly encountered.

There are longitudinal dark stripes on the chest. The light brown head has mottled spots, and the legs are light. The beak is blue with a black tip, and the cere is light yellow. The edges of the flight feathers and the tail of the bird are adorned with white spots. The tail is long, and the eyes are surrounded by yellow rings. The saturation of the color palette varies depending on the habitat. Individuals living in the east are more brightly colored than their western relatives.

Currently, it is a rare nesting bird. It is found throughout Kyrgyzstan but is rare everywhere. In most of its range, it is associated with ground squirrels and pikas, which determine its distribution. In several high-altitude areas, it nests in the alpine zone in high mountain steppes on flat-topped elevations on cliff remnants.

The common Saker Falcon lives both in the mountains and on the plains. In the north, it is migratory, while in the south, it is nomadic, and partly, perhaps, sedentary. The common Saker Falcon nests on cliffs and precipices. Its diet primarily consists of mammals (ground squirrels, pikas, and voles). Additionally, Saker Falcons feed on small (larks) and medium-sized birds, especially where small mammals are scarce. Birds play a significant role in the diet of the common Saker Falcon during winter. It is a rare protected species. The main factor in the decline of its population is poaching. It is listed in the Red Books of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

Red Book