Birds of the World

    FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae (Caracaras, Falcons)  
Genus: Falco (38 species)


Fox Kestrel
Fox Kestrel (Falco alopex)
Range: AF: Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia to Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya
Cheioune, Senegal  
 
Photograph by Nik Borrow     Copyright and usage info


Amur Falcon
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) Male
Range: PAL: e Siberia, Korean Pen. and ne China
Kruger National Park, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Derek Keats     Copyright and usage info

Amur Falcon
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) Female
Range: PAL: e Siberia, Korean Pen. and ne China
Sakania, Democratic Republic of Congo  
 
Photograph by Nigel Voaden   © All Rights Reserved.

Compare to Red-footed Falcon; males almost identical.

No Image
Seychelles Kestrel (Falco araeus) Vulnerable
Range: AF: North, Silhouette, Mahé, Praslin and some satellites (Inner Is., ne Seychelles)
 



Grey Kestrel
Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus)
Range: AF: Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia s to Tanzania and west to Angola and Namibia
The Gambia  
 
Photograph by Steve Riall   © All Rights Reserved.


Brown Falcon
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora berigora)
Range: AU: Australia, wc to se New Guinea and islands w of New Britain (se Bismarck Arch.)
Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Victoria, Australia  
 
Photograph by Patrick Kavanagh     Copyright and usage info


Lanner Falcon
Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus)
Range: PAL, AF: s Europe, Arabian Pen. and widespread AF
Western Cape, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


Nankeen Kestrel
Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides cenchroides)
Range: AU: wc New Guinean mts., Australia and Tasmania, Lord Howe and Norfolk is. (e of Australia)
Arid Lands Botanical Park, Augusta, Australia  
 
Photograph by George Chapman     Copyright and usage info


Saker Falcon
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) Endangered
Range: PAL: c Europe to c Asia, s Siberia, n China, Himalayas and Tibet
Arhangay, Mongolia  
 
Photograph by Bradley Hacker   © All Rights Reserved.


Red-necked Falcon
Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) Near Threatened
Range: AF, OR: c, w, s AF and India
Pirang Forest, The Gambia  
 
Photograph by Steve Riall   © All Rights Reserved.


Merlin
Merlin (Falco columbarius columbarius)
Range: NA, PAL: widespread
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA
  A small migratory falcon that is very slightly larger and less colorful than the American Kestrel.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small migratory falcon that is very slightly larger and less colorful than the American Kestrel.

Sooty Falcon
Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) Vulnerable
Range: AF, PAL: e Libya to sw Pakistan
Western Cape, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


No Image
African Hobby (Falco cuvierii)
Range: AF: widespread s of the Sahara
 



Orange-breasted Falcon
Orange-breasted Falcon (Falco deiroleucus) Near Threatened
Range: MA, SA: s Mexico to ne Argentina
Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil  
   
Photograph by Tropical Birding (Nick Athanas)   © All Rights Reserved.

A large falcon (male is smaller) similarly colored to the Bat Falcon, except with a well-defined orange band across the chest.

Dickinson's Kestrel
Dickinson's Kestrel (Falco dickinsoni)
Range: AF: Angola and Namibia to c Kenya and n Mozambique
Machile River IBA, Zambia  
 
Photograph by Nik Borrow     Copyright and usage info


Eleonora's Falcon
Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae)
Range: PAL: s Europe and n AF
Carbonia-Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy  
 
Photograph by Stephen A. Daly   © All Rights Reserved.


Taita Falcon
Taita Falcon (Falco fasciinucha) Vulnerable
Range: AF: s Ethiopia to n South Africa
Kruger National Park, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


Aplomado Falcon
Aplomado Falcon (Falco femoralis)
Range: MA, SA: widespread
Mendoza, Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Perhaps a tiny bit smaller than the Peregrine Falcon. Uncommon. Found in open areas and usually far from people.

Grey Falcon
Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) Vulnerable
Range: AU: inland Australia
Sturt National Park, Australia  
 
Photograph by David Cook     Copyright and usage info


No Image
Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger) Near Threatened
Range: OR: Pakistan through India to c Myanmar
 



Australian Hobby
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
Range: AU: Lesser Sundas and Australia
 
 
Photograph by David Cook     Copyright and usage info


Prairie Falcon
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Range: NA, MA: sc Canada to sc USA
Salton Sea, California, United States  
   
Photograph by Tom Benson     Copyright and usage info


No Image
Spotted Kestrel (Falco moluccensis)
Range: OR, AU: s Philippines, Java and Bali, Sulawesi, Moluccas and Lesser Sundas
 



Lesser Kestrel
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) Female
Range: PAL: s Europe and nw Africa to n China
South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


Malagasy Kestrel
Malagasy Kestrel (Falco newtoni)
Range: AF: Madagascar and Aldabra (sw Seychelles)
Mandrare Valley, Madagascar  
 
Photograph by Nigel Voaden   © All Rights Reserved.


New Zealand Falcon
New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)
Range: AU: North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (e of South I.; New Zealand)
Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand  
 
Photograph by Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith     Copyright and usage info



Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Range: Worldwide: widespread
Spain  
   
Photograph by Carlos Delgado     Copyright and usage info

A medium-sized falcon believed to be the fastest animal on the planet. Note the black mask. Peregrine means wanderer, and this species is possible almost anywhere.
In flight.

No Image
Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) Endangered
Range: IO: Mauritius (c Mascarenes)
 



Bat Falcon
Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis petoensis)
Range: MA, SA: n Mexico to ne Argentina
Tatama National Park, Pueblo Rico, Risaralda, Colombia
  A small falcon, but larger than a Merlin or Kestrel.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Greater Kestrel
Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides)
Range: AF: e, s
Western Cape, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


Rock Kestrel
Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus)
Range: AF: Angola to s Tanzania s to South Africa
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa  
 
Photograph by Graham Searll   © All Rights Reserved.


Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
Range: NA, PAL: Arctic Europe, Asia and North America
Mývatnssveit, Iceland  
   
Photograph by Svenni and his Icelandic birds   © All Rights Reserved.

Gyrfalcon
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
Range: NA, PAL: Arctic Europe, Asia and North America
Sandgerði, Iceland  
   
Photograph by Svenni and his Icelandic birds   © All Rights Reserved.


No Image
Oriental Hobby (Falco severus)
Range: OR, AU: Himalayas of nw India to e China, se Asia, Philippines, Java and Bali, Sulawesi region to New Guinea and some satellites, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.
 



American Kestrel
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Male
Range: NA, MA, SA: widespread
Montevideo, Uruguay  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

American Kestrel
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Female
Range: NA, MA, SA: widespread
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA
  The female has a brown wing.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small falcon found throughout the Americas and Caribbean. Some races migrate. Feeds on small rodents and lizards. Sometimes hovers.

Eurasian Hobby
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
Range: PAL: widespread
Lilongwe, Malawi  
 
Photograph by Peter R. Steward     Copyright and usage info


Black Falcon
Black Falcon (Falco subniger)
Range: AU: Australia (except Tasmania)
New South Wales, Australia  
 
Photograph by JJ Harrison     Copyright and usage info


Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Range: PAL, AF: widespread
Germany  
   
Photograph by Andreas Trepte     Copyright and usage info

Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus)
Range: PAL, AF: widespread
Scotland  
   
Photograph by Rainbirder (Steve Garvie)     Copyright and usage info


Red-footed Falcon
Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) Male Vulnerable
Range: PAL: c Europe to c Asia
Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park, Hungary  
 
Photograph by Andrej Chudy     Copyright and usage info

Red-footed Falcon
Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) Female Vulnerable
Range: PAL: c Europe to c Asia
Hungary  
 
Photograph by Andy Morffew     Copyright and usage info

Compare to Amur Falcon; males almost identical.

Banded Kestrel
Banded Kestrel (Falco zoniventris)
Range: AF: Madagascar (except se)
Ifaty, Madagascar  
 
Photograph by Nigel Voaden   © All Rights Reserved.



© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba