Falco concolor Temminck, 1825

Taxonomic Identification

Falco concolor Temminck, 1825 is an elegant bird of prey, measuring 32–37 cm in length with a 78–90 cm wingspan.

Body Shape

It has a body shape similar to a large Eurasian hobby or a small Eleonora's falcon, featuring long pointed wings, a long tail, and a slim body.

Adult Plumage

Adult individuals are blue-grey, and do not have the black underwing coverts that characterize Eleonora's falcon.

Juvenile Plumage Comparison

Juvenile Falco concolor resemble large juvenile Eurasian hobbies, or small juvenile Eleonora's falcons. A dark trailing edge along the wings and tail distinguishes juvenile Falco concolor from juvenile Eurasian hobbies, and it lacks the underwing contrast created by the dark coverts of the larger Eleonora's falcon.

General Distribution

This species occurs across Southwest Asia and North Africa.

Breeding Habitat

It breeds on islands, and on coastal or desert cliffs, ranging from Libya to Pakistan.

Wintering Range

It is a long-distance migrant that winters in east Africa, ranging south to Madagascar and southeastern South Africa.

Wintering Range Shift

Increasingly regular recent sightings paired with a lack of older historical records indicates that its wintering range has expanded southward over recent decades.

Vagrant Occurrence

It is a rare vagrant in areas north of its breeding range.