Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)

Saker Falcon

[order] FALCONIFORMES | [family] Falconidae | [latin] Falco cherrug | [authority] Gray, 1834 | [UK] Saker Falcon | [FR] Faucon sacre | [DE] Wurgfalke | [ES] Halcon sacre | [NL] Sakervalk

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

Members of the genus falco are mostly medium-sized falcons, but vary from the large peregrine falcon to the small American kestrel. The wings are long and pointed and used almost continuously during flight. The bill is short, powerful, and with a distinct ‘tooth’ on each side. Most falcons of this group have a black teardrop-shaped ‘mustache’ mark on each side of the head. Falcons are fastflying birds of open country and are famous for attaining high speeds as they dive from high altitudes to knock birds out of the air.

Physical charateristics

Averages smaller than Gyrfalcon but larger than Peregrine. Plumage essentially dark brown above, normally lacking blue or grey tones. Tail shows pale lines of spots rather than bars. Adult shows noticeably cream head, with indistinct facial pattern and pale vent contrasting with densely streaked underbody. Juvenile (and some adults) have dark bar across underwing, contrasting with pale undersurface of flight-feathers.
Birds at any distance sometimes difficult to tell from Gyrfalcon and Lanner, and distinctive looser build and flight action learned only from experience. Gyrfalcon larger, with whole body broad and heavy (not just chest as in Saker), and broader wings and tail; lacks striking underwing pattern of most Saker. Lanner shares pale crown and similar flight silhouette but is less bulky, with narrower wings (adult also lacking dark bar across larger under wing-coverts) and darker face. In close view, lack of flank and thigh barring in Saker helpful, but some adult Lanner also unmarked. Differentiation of some immature birds not easy; close attention to head pattern and amount of wing and tail barring or spotting then essential. Importantly, Saker always shows much paler, apparently translucent bases to undersurfaces of flight-feathers. Flight fast and powerful but hunts at rather low level, like Gyrfalcon, flying down or stooping at bird prey. Action appears lazy, but when hunting, quickens although still less emphatic than Peregrine.

Listen to the sound of Saker Falcon

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/FALCONIFORMES/Falconidae/sounds/Saker Falcon.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto


wingspan min.: 110 cm wingspan max.: 125 cm
size min.: 45 cm size max.: 55 cm
incubation min.: 29 days incubation max.: 31 days
fledging min.: 45 days fledging max.: 31 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 3  
      eggs max.: 5  

Range

Eurasia : Central, South. C Europe E through SW Russia, Ukraine and Iran to R Yenisey and foothills of Altai; winters from Europe and NE Africa E to NW India.

Habitat

The Saker is physically adapted to hunting close to the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high manoeuvrability, thus specialising on mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents (especially ground squirrels Citellus) of open grassy landscapes such as desert edge, semi-desert, steppes and arid montane areas; in some areas, particularly near water, it switches to birds as key prey, and has recently substituted domestic pigeons for rodents in parts of Europe. It uses copses or cliffs for nest sites (sometimes even the ground), occupying the old nests of other birds. Clutch sizes varies from two to six, with means from 3.2 to 3.9 in different circumstances. Breeding success varies with year (especially in areas where rodents cycle). Birds are sedentary, part-migratory or fully migratory, largely depending on the extent to which food supply in breeding areas disappears in winter.

Reproduction

In the rocky areas breeding sites include niches and ledges, when nesting on the pylons Falco cherrug uses old raven nests. Display flights are observed in the first and second thirds of March. The earliest clutches can be found at the end of the month. Clutch size varies from 1 to 5 eggs, usually 3-4, sometimes 2-5. Incubation takes 28-30 days. Chicks appear by the early April and the majority of them fledge out at the end of May – beginning of June. The males begin to forage on their own earlier than females, somewhere around the first ten days of August. From the second ten days of the month males start autumn movements, whereas juvenile females stay in the breeding areas till the end of September. Adult birds leave in the first ten days of November. Single birds and pairs winter either in the nest surroundings or in the adjusted areas.

Feeding habits

The Saker is physically adapted to hunting close to the ground in open terrain, combining rapid acceleration with high manoeuvrability, thus specialising on mid-sized diurnal terrestrial rodents (especially ground squirrels Citellus) of open grassy landscapes such as desert edge, semi-desert, steppes and arid montane areas; in some areas, particularly near water, it switches to birds as key prey, and has recently substituted domestic pigeons for rodents in parts of Europe. It uses copses or cliffs for nest sites (sometimes even the ground), occupying the old nests of other birds. Clutch sizes varies from two to six, with means from 3.2 to 3.9 in different circumstances. Breeding success varies with year (especially in areas where rodents cycle). Birds are sedentary, part-migratory or fully migratory, largely depending on the extent to which food supply in breeding areas disappears in winter.

Video Saker Falcon

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=680t7aQhRsc

copyright: J. Gregory


Conservation

This species has been reclassified as Vulnerable because a recent analysis of all available data suggests that declines have been less severe than was previously suspected. It has nevertheless undergone a rapid population decline, particularly on the central Asian breeding grounds, owing to unsustainable capture for the falconry trade, as well as habitat degradation and the impacts of agrochemicals. Further research to monitor key populations and to clarify the extent of the threat from trapping and its effect on population trends is vital.
Falco cherrug occurs in a wide range across the Palearctic region from eastern Europe to western China. The species has declined significantly during the 20th century, including, at global level by about 61% (48-70%) from 1990 to 2003, specially in Central Asia. The global population was estimated to be 8,500-12,000 pairs in 1990 compared to 3,600-4,400 pairs for 2003. Historical population data are sparse, but it is likely that Europe held some 5-10 thousand pairs in the second half of the 19th century. After 1945 it has declined markedly in its European distribution. Now, the European breeding population is very small (as few as 600-700 pairs), and declined substantially between 1970-1990. Although several central European populations were stable or increased during 1990-2000, the species continued to decline throughout eastern Europe, and underwent a large decline overall (>20% in two generations). Because of these changes, the historical range has contracted and is fragmented now. Occurs in a wide range across the Palearctic region from eastern Europe to western China. In Europe, five more or less isolated fragments of the range can be distinguished: (1) a fairly continuous population in Central Europe ranging from the Czech Republic through Eastern Austria, Slovakia and Hungary to Serbia and Western Romania (over 200 pairs); (2) in southern Ukraine, Moldova and Dobrogea in Romania (260-280 pairs) and (3) close to the Ural mountains in Russia (10-20 pairs, disappearing). Heavily depleted and fragmented populations are (4) in Bulgaria and Macedonia, as well as (5) in Turkey and the Caucasus where little information is available.
Kazakhstan (90% decline from median of 1990 estimates to median of 2003 estimates), Uzbekistan (90% decline), Russian Federation (69%), Kyrgyzstan (68%) and Mongolia (59%)6. Assuming a generation length of five years and that the decline of the Saker began (at least in some areas) in the 1970s and 1980s (consumption of Sakers in the Middle East was heavy by mid-1980s), the declines over 13 years equate to 66% over 15 years (based on median estimates), with a minimum-maximum of 53-75%.
Saker Falcon status Vulnerable

Migration

Migratory in Russia, partially migratory further west. Probably only minority present within European breeding range in mid-winter, and generally absent from Russia north of Crimea and Caucasus. In central Mediterranean, some pass through Italy and winter in south. Also irregular visitor Malta (mainly late October to early December). Movement through Turkey (where local population perhaps resident) indicated by small numbers crossing Bosporus in autumn and spring, and by regular autumn passage (September-November) through Cyprus, where occasionally overwinters and small return movement March-April. Penetrates north-east Africa in some numbers, passing down Nile through Egypt to Sudan. Also occurs regularly in Ethiopia.
In Russia and western Siberia, leaves northern breeding areas late September and October, returning March and early April. In south-central Europe, where winter climate less severe, may be absent for much shorter periods: departures from Rumania in November, returning February-March; in east Slovakia, may return late February or early March and still be present in December or January.
Adult birds are sedentary (Turkey), part-migratory (Central Europe) or fully migratory (parts of Russia), depending largely on the availability of food in winter. They are more or less sedentary in southern part of range, but may straggle away from the breeding areas in winter. Juvenile dispersal/migration is probably ubiquitous across global range. Birds leave breeding grounds in October and return in March-April. In the central Mediterranean some birds pass through Italy and winter in south. Also irregular visitor in Malta, occurs in Libya and Tunisia mainly in winter. Small numbers crosses the Bosporus in autumn and spring.

Distribution map

Saker Falcon distribution range map

Literature

Title Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in Kyrgistan
Author(s): E. Shukurov and A. Davletbakov
Abstract: Saker falcons occur throughout Kyrgistan territory..[more]..
Source: Shukurov, E & Davletbakov A. 2001: 95-100

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Title Insects inhabiting Saker (Falco cherrug) nests
in Hungary
Author(s): Merkl, O., Bagyura, J. and Rzsa, L
Abstract: This study describes the species composition
of i..[more]..
Source: ORNIS HUNGARICA 14: 1 (2004)

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Title International Action Plan
for the Saker Falcon
Author(s): Szabolcs Nagy, Ivan Demeter
Abstract: The Saker Falco cherrug qualifies as Globally Enda..[more]..
Source: T-PVS/Inf (2003) 18

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Title Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) in Russia
Author(s): I. Karyakin, L. Konovalov, A. Moshkin
Abstract: The Saker (Falco cherrug) is one of the most
enda..[more]..
Source: rapport

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