The red-necked falcon, or Falco chicquera, is a medium-sized raptor which belongs to the Falconidae family. It has bluish-gray wings and upper body, yellow feet, a chestnut coloured red cap and short, reddish-brown streaks passing downwards through its yellow eyes, making it unmistakable.
It has two distinct populations, of which the Falco chicquera chicquera is found in India and the Falco chicquera ruficollis is found in sub-Saharan Africa. The African falcon appears very similar to the Indian one, except that it has dark markings on its upper parts, a reddish-brown breast band and darker eye stripes.
This falcon likes open savanna and woodlands. In India it is found in open habitats and prefers to stay away from dense forests or high elevations. It is a non-migratory bird and usually remains in its territory all year through. Its call is a shrill ‘kee-kee’.
It is a tactical and lethal hunter that eats small to medium-sized birds, taken either aerially or directly off the ground. It prefers to hunt as a pair and has a unique method of pursuing its prey. One bird flies low and flushes up small birds while the other flies higher up and captures the prey as it is chased up. It has been observed to have formed a unique hunting arrangement with the gabar goshawk, which flushes out prey that the red-necked falcon then catches. The two species then feast on the prey together!
It forms a long lasting bond with one partner and uses a stick nest made by other birds, often evicting them from the tree! In Africa the nest may be set in the fork of a palm tree, while in India it prefers to nest in mango trees. The female lays 2 to4 speckled brown eggs and incubates them over a period of 32 to 34 days. The male is in charge of providing food for her during this time.
This species is placed under ‘Near Threatened’ in the IUCN Red List.
Picture Credit : Google
