Lanner Falcon
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| Lanner Falcon | ||||||||||||||
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| Falco biarmicus Temminck, 1825 |
The Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) is a large bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It is mainly resident, but some birds disperse more widely after the breeding season.
It is a bird of open country and savannah. It lays 3-4 eggs on a cliff ledge nest, or occasionally in an old stick nest in a tree.
Lanner Falcon is a large falcon, at 43-50cm length with a wingspan of 95-105cm. It is like a large Peregrine Falcon in general structure. It usually hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine's stoop from a height, and takes mainly bird prey in flight.
European Lanner Falcons have slate grey or brown-grey upperparts, but the African birds are a paler blue grey above. The breast is streaked, but the belly is whitish, unlike Saker Falcon.
Sexes are similar, but the browner young birds resemble Saker. However, they never show the all-dark thighs of the larger species. The call is a harsh wray-e.
Lanner falcons are prized in falconry as an excellent 'first falcon'. Displaying a good nature sometimes lacking in more highly powered birds, what Lanners lack in hunting prowess they more than make up for in personality. Outstandingly manouverable, they use their large tails and relatively low wing loading to perform exceptionally to the lure and can take a range of small birds as prey. One of the few raptors to attack prey head on at times, their tactics of ambush and surprise make them entertaining birds for crowds to enjoy. Bred in captivity for falconry, their numbers are in something of a decline in Europe, though they remain relatively common in parts of Africa.
Hybrids between Peregrines and Lanners are a popular choice for modern falconers.