Lanner Falcon

Falco Biarmicus  

Distribution: South and southeast Europe, the Middle East, South-westernmost Asia and Africa.

Habitat: Desert, savannah, wooded grassland, forest cliffs, mountains and will often hunt over fields and coastal areas. 

Food: Primarily small to medium birds, small mammals, insects and reptiles.

Facts: 

• Bonded pairs often hunt co-operatively, with the female actively flushing prey for the male to catch.
• Exploits activities of other native hunters, catching prey that has been flushed.
• Solitary or in pairs but sometimes can been seen in larger number (20 or so individuals) where food is localized in large numbers (water-hole, grass fires).
• Mainly hunting during daylight hours but also known as a crepuscular (dawn and dusk) hunter, and even occasionally has been recorded hunting at night.
• Hunting techniques vary according to prey species. Low-level surprise and head-on attack are common, as well as spectacular stoops to snatch prey on the wing.
• Courtship displays can be quite specular, with mutual high circling, often leading into rapid aerobatics; including steep, fast stoops/dives from high altitude, followed by a sudden sharp ascent with high-speed twisting chases between the bonded pair. 

Did you know? 

Falconry is the oldest TRUE sport in the world! When Falconry was at its peak in the 13th and 14th century there were strict laws governing which bird a member of Royalty were allowed to possess. 

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