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The red-footed falcon, formerly the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa. It is a regular wanderer to western Europe, and in August 2004 a red-footed falcon was found in North America for the first time on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is a medium-small, long-winged species. The adult male is all blue-grey, except for his red undertail and legs; its underwings are uniformly grey. The female has a grey back and wings, orange head and underparts, and a white face with black eye stripe and moustaches. Young birds are brown above and buff below with dark streaks, and a face pattern like the female. Red-footed falcons are 28–34 cm (11–13 in) in length with a wingspan of 65–75 cm (26–30 in). The average mass is 155 g (5.5 oz).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Red-footed Falcon sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Tanzania, Isle of Man, Luxembourg.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Amur FalconFalco amurensisMales are characteristically dark sooty grey above with rufous thighs and vent.
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicusIt is a large falcon, at 43–50 cm (17–20 in) length with a wingspan of 95–105 cm (37–41 in).
Learn the Red-footed Falcon for real
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