Falco jugger
The Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger) is a medium-sized raptor endemic to the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions, often referred to as 'India's native falcon.' Measuring 36-46 cm (14-18 inches) in length with a wingspan of 79-90 cm (31-35 inches), adults display dark brown upperparts, a distinctive blackish cap, and a prominent black malar stripe. Their underparts are whitish to creamy, finely streaked with dark brown, and they possess characteristic blackish 'trousers' (feathers on the f...
This falcon favors open dry country, semi-deserts, agricultural fields, and rocky hills, often occurring at low to moderate elevations up to 2000 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of small to medium-sized birds, but also includes rodents, bats, lizards, and large insects, captured through swift aerial pursuit or from the ground.
Laggar Falcons are diurnal hunters, actively foraging from dawn until dusk. They typically hunt from a prominent perch or while soaring, employing powerful aerial stoops to capture prey, though they are also adept at ground hunting. These falcons are highly territorial, with pairs defending their...
The Laggar Falcon is predominantly a resident species across the Indian subcontinent. Its breeding and year-round distribution encompasses much of mainland India, eastern Pakistan (east of the Indus River), Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. The range extends westward into parts of southeastern Iran ...
Near Threatened
- The name "Laggar" is derived from Hindi, believed to refer to its habit of waiting patiently on a perch for prey before striking. - Unlike many falcons, Laggar Falcons are known to engage in cooperative hunting, with a pair or small group working together to flush and capture prey. - They are o...