Red-necked Falcon

Appearance

Furthermore, these falcons have a gray color on the upper sides of their wings, which becomes darker (almost black) towards the wing tips. On the chest and the underside of the wings, the birds are almost white, although many have a wavy pattern. Also important to mention are the yellow legs and beak; the beak has a black tip and is curved downward. With all these features, the Red-necked Falcon belongs to the medium-sized birds of prey, with a body length of approximately 30 to 38 centimeters and a wingspan of 85 centimeters. As is the case with most birds of prey, the males of these falcons are smaller than the females.

Behavior and Habitat of the Red-necked Falcon

In general, this bird lives alone in a fixed territory; only during the mating season does it come together with conspecifics, with both parents caring for the young. Particularly during this time, the territory is defended against intruders. The territory can extend about five to ten kilometers around the nest. The African countries where the Red-necked Falcon mainly occurs include: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, and Nigeria. However, the falcon can also be found outside of Africa, as it belongs to migratory birds and often seeks new breeding sites or food-rich habitats. Preferred habitats include subtropical and tropical dry forests, as well as dry savannas or scrublands, which are inhabited by Red-necked Falcons. This is because they find plenty of prey here, which mainly consists of small birds and, in rare cases, mammals if nothing else is available.