Facts about Saker Falcon

1. 08

   Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, saker falcons face ongoing threats from habitat loss, power line electrocution, and the live trapping trade.

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2. 07

   A flagship species for conservation efforts, the saker falcon holds the status of national bird of Hungary and Mongolia.

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3. 06

   Saker falcons breed in open steppe and desert regions across an enormous range spanning from Eastern Europe through Central Asia to Mongolia, utilizing abandoned nests of other large birds rather than constructing their own.

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4. 05

   The saker falcon's distinctive dark malar stripe and pale crown distinguish it from the closely related peregrine falcon across their overlapping Eurasian ranges.

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5. 04

   Illegal poaching for the falconry trade reduced saker falcon populations by an estimated 90 percent across Central Asia between 1990 and 2010.

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6. 03

   Mongolian saker falcons weigh between 0.9 and 1.3 kilograms, with females significantly larger than males, a trait called reverse sexual dimorphism.

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7. 02

   Central Asian populations of saker falcons migrate approximately 9,000 kilometers annually between their breeding grounds in Mongolia and wintering sites in Africa.

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8. 01

   Reaching speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour during hunting dives, the saker falcon ranks among Earth's fastest animals.

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