Falco eleonorae
The Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) is a medium-sized raptor, measuring 36-40 cm in length with a wingspan of 87-103 cm and weighing 340-450g, showcasing slight sexual dimorphism where females are marginally larger. It exhibits striking plumage dimorphism, with a dark morph appearing almost entirely sooty black or dark brown, often with reddish undertail coverts, and a light morph featuring dark slate-grey upperparts, rufous underparts with bold dark streaking, and a contrasting pale thro...
This species breeds almost exclusively on inaccessible coastal cliffs, rocky islets, and islands, often in arid or semi-arid regions overlooking the sea. Its breeding colonies are found from sea level up to a few hundred meters in elevation.
The diet primarily consists of small migratory passerine birds, captured aerially over the sea, especially during the breeding season. During other periods or when birds are scarce, they also consume large insects such as beetles, dragonflies, and locusts.
Eleonora's Falcons are highly diurnal and gregarious raptors, spending much of their day in active aerial pursuit of prey or soaring effortlessly on thermals. Their foraging strategy is unique, specializing in catching small, exhausted migratory passerines on the wing over the sea, often hunting ...
The Eleonora's Falcon breeds predominantly across the Mediterranean basin, with its largest colonies found in the Aegean Sea (Greece, Turkey), but also in other significant locations such as the Canary Islands, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and along the North African coast (Morocco, Algeria, Tu...
Least Concern
- The Eleonora's Falcon is named after Eleonora of Arborea, a Sardinian princess and judge who enacted laws protecting raptors in the 14th century, long before modern conservation efforts. - It has one of the latest breeding seasons among all bird species in the Northern Hemisphere, laying eggs i...