The Lanner Falcon is a medium sized
falcon with a wide distribution across
all of Africa and the southern parts of
Italy, Sicily, Greece and Asia. It prefers
mountainous terrain except in Africa,
where it is found in savannahs, plains
and deserts. A typical falcon, the Lanner
is a fast flying bird and much of it's prey
is taken in the air, when the falcon folds
its wings and rapidly descends to its prey
and either binds to it in mid-air or hits it
with sufficient force to kill it. As well as
airbourne prey it can also survive by
catching ground living mammals and lizards
and even has a tendency to gorge on locusts
and flying termites when they are swarming.
The Lanner Falcon's plumage is very light in
colour on the breast with darker brown
feathers on the back and a very light
brown/pinkish tint to the head feathers,
with dark 'teardrops descending' down from
the eyes. It lays 3-4 eggs on a cliff ledge nest,
or occasionally in an old stick nest in a tree.
