Falco cuvierii A.Smith, 1830

Taxon Introduction

This is a description of Falco cuvierii A.Smith, 1830, a small, slim falcon.

Adult Plumage

Adults have blackish upperparts, deep rufous underparts, and rufous coloring on the cheeks, nape, and throat. When viewed at close range, fine black streaks are visible on the throat and flanks. The facial skin and feet of adults are yellow.

Juvenile Plumage

Juvenile birds have browner upperparts, heavier streaking on the underparts, and paler coloring on the cheeks, nape, and throat.

Size Measurements

Adults measure 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, with a wingspan of 70 centimetres (28 in).

Habitat Preferences

This species most often occurs at the edges of moist woodlands and forests. It is most common in palm savannah and gallery forest across West Africa and the western regions of East Africa, and less common in central and north-eastern Africa.

Recorded Range

It has been recorded in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Movement Behavior

This species may be nomadic, moving to follow available food sources.