Sooty Falcon
Falco concolor
The Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) is a rare falcons and caracara found in 24 countries, weighing about 250 g. The sooty falcon is a medium-sized falcon, breeding from northeastern Africa to the southern Persian Gulf region, and wintering in East Africa and Madagascar.
About the Sooty Falcon
The sooty falcon is a medium-sized falcon, breeding from northeastern Africa to the southern Persian Gulf region, and wintering in East Africa and Madagascar.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is an elegant bird of prey, 32–37 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. It is shaped like a large Eurasian hobby or a small Eleonora's falcon, with its long pointed wings, long tail and slim body. The adults are blue-grey, and lack the black underwing coverts of the Eleonora's falcon. The young bird is like a large juvenile hobby, or small juvenile Eleanora's falcon. Its dark trailing edge to the wings and tail distinguish it from the former species, and it lacks the underwing contrast caused by the dark coverts of the larger falcon.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Sooty Falcon?
- This is an elegant bird of prey, 32–37 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Sooty Falcon?
- The Sooty Falcon is a medium sized bird weighing about 250 g.
- Where can you see a Sooty Falcon?
- The Sooty Falcon occurs in 24 countries, including Madagascar, South Africa, Egypt, Oman and Tanzania.
- What birds look similar to a Sooty Falcon?
- The Sooty Falcon is most easily confused with the Fox Kestrel, the Grey Falcon and the Oriental Hobby.
- Is the Sooty Falcon endangered?
- The Sooty Falcon is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Sooty Falcon for real
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