Faucon sacre

Identification

The saker falcon is a large hierofalcon, larger than the lanner falcon and almost as large as gyrfalcon at 45–57 cm (18–22 in) length with a wingspan of 97–126 cm (38–50 in). Males weigh between 730–990 g (26–35 oz) and females 970–1,300 g (34–46 oz). It resembles a larger but browner Prairie Falcon. It is larger and more heavily built than the related Lanner Falcon.<p>Saker falcons tend to have variable plumage. Males and females are similar, except in size, as are young birds, although these tend to be darker and more heavily streaked. The call is a sharp kiy-ee or a repeated kyak-kyak-kyak.

Taxonomie

This species belongs to the close-knit hierofalcon complex. In this group, there is ample evidence for rampant hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting which confounds analyses of DNA sequence data to a massive extent; molecular studies with small sample sizes can simply not be expected to yield reliable conclusions in the entire hierofalcon group. The radiation of the entire living diversity of hierofalcons seems to have taken place in the Eemian interglacial at the start of the Late Pleistocene, a mere 130,000–115,000 years ago; the saker falcon represents a lineage that expanded out of northeastern Africa into the interior of southeastern Europe and Asia, by way of the eastern Mediterranean region.<p>The Saker Falcon has four officially recognized subspecies in the international ornithology according to IOC World Bird List:<p>Some saker falcons at the northeast edge of the range in the Altai Mountains are slightly larger, and darker and more heavily spotted on the underparts. These, known as the Altai falcon, have been treated in the past either as a distinct species "Falco altaicus" or as a hybrid between saker falcon and gyrfalcon. However, modern opinion (e.g. (Orta 1994)) treats them as a form of saker falcons and new research in population genetics and ecology supports that view. According to a recent study, Altai falcons are genetically intermingled with the broader Asian Saker population and do not constitute a distinct cluster, indicating that they are only colour morphs, and do not represent a separate taxonomic entity.<p>In captivity, lanners and sakers can interbreed, and gyrfalcon-saker hybrids are also available (see bird flu experiment described in "Ecology and status").The specific name, cherrug, comes from the Sindhi name charg for a female saker. The common name saker comes from the (Arabic: صقر, romanized: Ṣaqr) meaning "falcon".

Nom scientifique

Falco cherrug

Autorité

Gray, JE, 1834

Ordre

Falconiformes

Famille

Falconidés

Genre

Falco

Répartition et habitat

Breeding range: PAL : plains and mountains of c Europe to c Asia, s Siberia, n China, Himalayas and Tibet. Non-breeding range: s Europe, n, e AF, Iran e to Nepal, n India, and s, c China.

Aire de reproduction

PAL : plains and mountains of c Europe to c Asia, s Siberia, n China, Himalayas and Tibet

Aire hors reproduction

s Europe, n, e AF, Iran e to Nepal, n India, and s, c China

Migration

Migrateurs complets

Comportement

Mode de migration: Migrateurs complets.

Conservation

Tendance de la population: en déclin.

Tendance de la population

en déclin