![]() After the falcon sights its prey, it quickly dives to the ground snatching its victim in its talons, and then it returns to the perch for feeding. ![]() It perches from a tall tree as it watches down for a food. Regardless of their size, they are a voracious predator just like birds of prey. The pygmy falcon majorly depends on insects and lizards for food but will also feed on rodents and small birds. Pygmy falcon mobility depends on the availability of weaver since they use their nesting for mating hence have very limited distribution and also its prone to prey due to its size, it can also avoid the savanna grassland habitat that is devoid to the sociable weaver bird nests. Falcons avoid forests and open edges but frequently visit huge nests of birds who they share roosting and nesting sites with. They prefer a climate that is arid or semi arid. The falcons live in two different places in Africa. Although both parents incubate the eggs for thirty days, it takes a higher toll on the female. The falcon pair evicts one to two of the weavers from their nest and the female lays around four eggs. When courting, the female falcons perform exaggerated tail wagging displays which is followed by the pair moving to the nest of a sociable weaver. Their size enables them to share a nest colony which provides a safe and weatherproof environment. Similar to the woodpecker, falcons are agile in flight and can dart through the air. The pygmy falcon is diurnal which means it is active in the morning and late afternoon but spends the majority of the day roosting. Falcon flight is low and undulating and because of its size and pattern, it perches upright in an open treetops and it usually inhabits dry bush. The flight feathers of the wing are spotted black and white while the tail is barred black and white. The females falcon has a chestnut back and white eye spot on nape while the juvenile falcon have a brown back which is duller the adult female one with a rufous wash on the breast. For instance the male adult pygymy falcon is white below and on the face while their back is grayish in colour. Physical Descriptionįalcon physique varies depending on whether or not they are male or female. They prey on insects, small mammals, and small reptiles and are six inches long on average. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission.The pygmy falcon is the smallest type of predatory bird in Africa and can mostly be found in eastern and southern parts of the continent. This content was written by Jeanne Egbosiuba Ukwendu. Related Articles Editor's Picks Articles Top Ten Articles Previous Features Site MapĬontent copyright © 2022 by Jeanne Egbosiuba Ukwendu. This site needs an editor - click to learn more! ![]() These birds use the large communal nest masses of weaver birds as roosting and nesting sites. Interesting Facts: The African Pygmy Falcon is the smallest falcon of the African continent. Predators: Occassionally, the chicks of the African Pygmy Falcon may be attacked, however as a general rule they do not have any predators. Ther are several reasons for this behavior - defneding the nest, keeping warm during cold spells, and delaying the dispersal of offspring. Habits: At times more than one pair of falcons will inhabit a nest. The chicks fledge sometime between 27 to 40 days but remain in the area of the nest for up to 2 months after leaving the nest.įood: African Pygmy Falcons eat on small lizards, rodents, birds, and large insects. The other population is in South Africa, Angola, Namibia, and Botswana.īabies: Three eggs are normally laid in a nest. One is in east Africa in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Southern Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. The East African Pygmy Falcon nests in White-headed Buffalo-weaver nests and in Southern African they nest in Red-billed Buffalo-weaver nests as well as in the vacant rooms of Sociable Weaver nests.Ĭountries found in: The African pygmy falcon has two separate populations. Habitat: African Pygmy Falcons prefer arid and semi-arid steppes with sparse vegetation and some large trees or plants. Life Span: The lifespan of the African Pygmy Falcon is through to be 6 to 8 years with a maximum lifespan of 20 years.ĭescription: Adult Pygmy Falcons are white underneath and grey above. Scientific Name: Polihierax semitorquatusĪverage Adult Weight: 2 ounces to 2 1/2 ounces Name: African Pygmy Falcon (Pygmy Falcon)
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