- Taita Falcon
Taxobox
name = Taita Falcon
status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Taita Falcon, photographed at the Strydom Tunnel breeding site. An adult is pictured here.
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Falconiformes
familia =Falconidae
genus = "Falco"
species = "F. fasciinucha"
binomial = "Falco fasciinucha"
binomial_authority = Reichenow & Neumann, 1895The Taita Falcon "Falco fasciinucha" is one of the smallest Falcons in the Southern African Sub-region. It was first found in the
Taita Hills ofKenya whence comes its name. It is spread throughout the eastern portion of subsaharan Africa but is mostly found in Kenya. There are a few nesting sites inZimbabwe (Zambezi River )and NortheasternSouth Africa .It is also rather scarce and relatively endangered. In Southern Africa itself, there are a few regular breeding sites where the birds can regularly be found.Identification
This small falcon is fairly distinctive, but may offer some confusion with a few other species.The rufous belly causes resemblance with
African Hobby , but important features to look out for are a white throat and the obvious rufous patches on the nape. Also the underwing coverts are uniform rufous whereas in African Hobby has more streaking. The most obvious underwing feature though is the fact that the flight feathers are barred black and white where as there is much more rufous in the flight feathers of African Hobby.The robust, long-winged Taita Falcons have a short tail. Their flight is fast and somewhat heavy looking, but they are adept at aerial hunting.The Taita Falcon has a body length of 10 - 12 inches, an approximate wingspan of 1 1/2 - 2 feet, and weighs 7 1/2 - 11 ounces.
Its courting/mating period is similar to that of the Peregrine Falcon. The same applies to its vocal as well as territorial preference.
References
* Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
