• the Following Pages Have Some Identification Markers for Each of Falcons Found in India

• The following pages have some identification markers for each of Falcons found in India

• To know more on these birds you can visit http://ogaclicks.com/falcon/

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• You can also call me on (91) 9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 ©www.ogaclicks.com CharacterisedHookedby Beak, Talons requiredabilities Flying and to& kill hunt prey Derivedfrom Latinword RaptorsAny: numerous of carnivorous birdsanimals thatkilland other hunt rapere : To: ravish Raptors at a glance

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©www.ogaclicks.com Steppe List of Falcons found in India

Sno. Name Binomial Name Falcon 1 Amur Falcon Falco amurensis 2 Barbary Falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinoides 3 Laggar Falcon Falco jugger 4 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 5 Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera 6 Saker Falcon Falco cherrug 7 Shaheen Falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinator Falconet 1 Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens 2 Pied Falconet Microhierax melanoleucos Hobby 1 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 2 Oriental Hobby Falco severus Kestrel 1 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 3 Merlin Falco columbarius

©www.ogaclicks.com Amur Falcon identification Tips Amur Falcon : Falco amurensis : Widespread passage migrant in India ( Nagaland is the best place to see them)

Red eyering Slaty Grey Head & crown

Slaty Grey nape Bill is black-tipped Orange eyering Grey with Red cere Grey upperparts Grey Head & Crown Grey throat

White chin Pale Grey underparts & throat Grey Coverts Blackish Upperparts are Blue- moustache grey with steaking Grey Secondaries

Underparts whitish, densely Legs are red Grey Primaries stripped black

Chestnut rump & Chestnut thighs undertail covert Pale rufous rump & undertail covert

Banded Grey tail Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both Sexes similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Barbary Falcon identification Tips Barbary Falcon : Falco peregrinus peregrinoides : Winter visitor to North West India

Head & Crown are grey Yellowish orbital ring

Rufous nape Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere Whitish throat

Whitish Breast Grey Upperparts

Streaked underparts Grey Coverts

Flight feathers Grey

Legs are Yellow

Grey banded Tail with white ends

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Laggar Falcon identification Tips Laggar Falcon : Falco jugger: Widespread Resident in India ( Except Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Eastern Ghats & North east)

Yellowish orbital ring Head & Crown are Rufous White Supercilium Bill is black-tipped Grey with Greenish-Yellow cere Grey nape Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere Dark Moustachial stripe White Neck Head & Crown are Brownish Whitish throat

White Cheek Whitish Breast Brownish -Grey Upperparts

Brown Upperparts White underparts with dark markings Brownish- Grey Coverts

Brown Coverts

Blackish Flight feathers Grey brown on underparts Brown Feathers Grey Legs are Yellow

Brown tails Buff-tipped Grey tail with white tips Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Peregrine Falcon identification Tips Peregrine Falcon : Falco peregrinus : Widespread Resident in India

Yellowish orbital ring Head & Crown are Bluish-Grey

Bill is black-tipped Grey with Greenish-Yellow cere Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere Bluish Grey Nape

Blackish facial stripe White Cheek Head & Crown are Brownish extending down from eye across malar Whitish throat Whitish Breast White Cheek with dark spots Bluish -Grey Upperparts

Brown Upperparts White underparts with dark baring Bluish- Grey Coverts Brown underparts with dense streaking

Flight feathers Bluish Grey Brown Coverts

Brown Feathers Grey Legs are Yellow

Brown tails Banded Bluish Grey tail with white tips Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Red-neck Falcon identification Tips Red-neck Falcon : Falco chicquera : Widespread Resident in India

Head & Crown are Rufous Yellowish orbital ring

Rufous nape Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere

Rufous Moustachial stripe Whitish throat Whitish Upper Breast Grey Upperparts

Barred underparts Grey Coverts

Flight feathers dark Grey Legs are Yellow

Grey tail faintly barred with black, with broad black subterminal bar and white tip Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Saker Falcon identification Tips Saker Falcon : Falco cherrug: Winter Visitor to Ladhak & Gujarat India Yellowish orbital ring Head & Crown are Brownish-white with streaks

Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere Face is whitish & brown with streaks

Dark Moustachial stripe Whitish throat

Brown Upperparts

White underpart with heavy brown steaking Brown Coverts

Legs are Yellow Flight feathers dark Brown

Grey tail faintly barred with black, with broad black subterminal bar and white tip

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Shaheen Falcon identification Tips Shaheen Falcon : Falco peregrinus peregrinator : Widespread Resident & Winter visitor in India Yellowish orbital ring Head & Crown are Black Black face mask

Bill is black-tipped Grey with yellow cere

Dark Moustachial stripe Whitish throat

Grey-black Upperparts

Rufous underparts with fine, dark streaks

Grey-Black Coverts

Legs are Yellow Flight feathers Grey-black

Grey tail faintly barred with black, and white tip

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com FALCONET Collared Falconet identification Tips Collared Falconet : Microhierax caerulescens: Resident of Himalayas & North East Orissa India

Dark brown eyes Head & Crown are dark Grey

White Supercilium Rufous Supercilium White forehead Thick black eyestripe Bill is black, greenish-black cere White collar

Rufous throat Glossy black Upperparts

Black Coverts Pale Rufous Underparts

Female Rufous Flanks

Toes are grey Flight feathers black Rufous Supercilium Male Rufous Forehead

Black tail

Juvenile Important id point Difference from Male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Difference from Adult www.HBW.com Pied Falconet identification Tips Pied Falconet : Microhierax melanoleucos : Resident of East Himalayas & North East India Head & Crown are black Dark brown eyes White Supercilium White forehead

Dark Forehead Cheek eyestripe Bill is black, white cere White collar

White throat Glossy black Upperparts

Black Coverts

White Underparts

Dark Morph Flight feathers black White Flanks

Toes are black

Black tail

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Both Sexes similar Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com HOBBY Eurasian Hobby identification Tips Eurasian Hobby : Falco Subbuteo : Breeds in Himalayas; Widespread winter visitor in India

Dark brown eyes, yellow eye ring Head & Crown are black

Black face mask Bill is Steel grey, yellow cere

White throat Dark Moustachial stripe

Glossy black Upperparts

White Underparts with bold black streaking Black Coverts

Rufous thighs Flight feathers black

Toes are grey Red Undertail

Black tail

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both Sexes similar www.HBW.com Oriental Hobby identification Tips Oriental Hobby : Falco severus : Resident of Himalayas & North East India Head & Crown are black Dark brown eyes, yellow eye ring

Bill is Steel grey, yellow cere Black face mask

Dark Moustachial stripe Pale Rufous throat Glossy black Upperparts Black Half collar band

Plain Rufous Black Coverts Underparts

Rufous thighs Flight feathers Toes are yellow black

Red Undertail

Black tail

Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both Sexes similar www.HBW.com KESTRAL Common Kestrel identification Tips Common Kestrel : Falco tinnunculus : Resident in Himalayas & Western Ghats ; Widespread Winter Visitor in India Head & Crown are Grey Dark brown eyes, yellow eye ring

Grey face Head & Crown are Bill is Steel grey, yellow cere brown & streaked White throat Dark Moustachial stripe

Glossy Brown Chestnut Upperparts Upperparts with with Black spots Black spots Pale underparts also spotted

Chestnut coverts with black spots Heavily spotted Rufous thighs underparts Toes are yellow, Claws are black Flight feathers Female black Toes are yellow, Claws are black

Brown tail with barring Grey tail with black & black subterminal subterminal band band Wings fall well Wings fall well short of tail Male short of tail Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Lesser Kestrel identification Tips Lesser Kestrel : Falco naumanni : Widespread passage migrant in India

Head & Crown are brown & streaked Dark brown eyes, yellow eye ring Head & Crown are Blue-Grey

Bill is Steel grey, yellow cere Blue-Grey face Rufous throat

Glossy Brown Upperparts Chestnut Upperparts with Black spots

Warm Rufous underparts with spots Female Blue-Grey coverts

Heavily spotted underparts Legs are yellow, claws are Pale Flight feathers black

Legs are yellow, claws are Pale Grey tail with black Brown tail with barring subterminal band & black subterminal Wings nearly band Wings nearly Male reaches tail reaches tail Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com Merlin identification Tips Merlin : Falco columbarius : Winter visitor to North India Dark brown eyes, yellow eye ring Head & Crown are brown & streaked Head & Crown are Blue-Grey

Bill is Steel grey , black tip, yellow cere Rufous orange nape White throat

Brown Upperparts Pale Blue Grey Upperparts

Pale Rufous orange streaked underparts Pale Blue-Grey coverts

Underparts with Heavy buffish streaking Flight feathers black Legs are yellow, claws are black Legs are yellow, Grey tail with black claws are black subterminal band Wings fall well short of tail Wings fall well short of tail Brown tail with strong barring Male Female Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com Difference from Male www.HBW.com