Lidths Falcon

Fascinating facts about the Lidths Falcon

• Ten percent of the world's Eleonora's falcons breed on Tilos, a tiny Greek island, where researchers counted six hundred fifty breeding pairs. That single island therefore supports roughly one-tenth of the global population, making it a critical stronghold for the species. Protecting Tilos helps safeguard a huge slice of the falcon's future.
• Unlike most raptors, Eleonora's falcons breed late in summer, timing chick-rearing to the massive rush of migrating passerines. They capture these birds in flight, sometimes imprisoning live prey in rock crevices for later feeding, a behavior noted as unique among birds. This seasonal switch from insects to birds lets the falcons exploit a fleeting food bonanza, showing how tightly their reproductive success is tied to the timing of continental bird migrations.
• Eleonora's falcons are gregarious colonial breeders, forming colonies of up to 300 pairs on cliffs and islands. Within these groups, average productivity varies from 1.26 to 2.6 fledglings per year. Such dense nesting amplifies the species' impact on migrating bird populations, while also making colonies vulnerable to disturbance, human activity that disrupts a single colony can ripple through hundreds of breeding pairs.
• Eleonora's falcons can fly a single one-way migration of up to 9,000 km (5,600 mi) from the Mediterranean to Madagascar. Covering that distance means they cross entire continents and deserts.
• Measuring 36-42 cm (14-17 in) in length, Eleonora's falcons sport an 87-104 cm (34-41 in) wingspan, with the smallest recorded span at 84 cm and the largest females reaching 103 cm.

At a glance

About the Lidths Falcon

As the sun begins to set over the Mediterranean, a sleek and agile form takes to the skies, the Lidth's Falcon slicing through the air with effortless precision, its wings beating in a swift and stuttering rhythm. With a mastery of the wind and a keen eye for prey, this diminutive hunter patrols the coastal cliffs and islands, its mottled brown plumage blending seamlessly into the rugged landscape. In a mesmerizing display of aerial prowess, the Lidth's Falcon executes a series of dazzling dives and swoops, its very existence a testament to the enduring power and beauty of the natural world.

More birds to discover

Browse Feravox