Photo: Saumitra Newalkar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Saker Falcon
Falco cherrug
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 961 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Falco
- Species cherrug
Where it lives
Plains and mountains of central Europe to central Asia, southern Siberia, northern China, Himalayas and Tibet
Quick facts
- Weight
- 961 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Saker Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Saker Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) belongs to the Falconidae family of the order Falconiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL plains and mountains of c Europe to c Asia, s Siberia, n China, Himalayas and Tibet.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 961 g, with a wing length of about 37.9 cm and a tail of around 20.5 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Saker Falcon?
The Saker Falcon is a very large bird that weighs around 961 g.
Where does the Saker Falcon live?
The Saker Falcon is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL plains and mountains of c Europe to c Asia, s Siberia, n China, Himalayas and Tibet, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Saker Falcon belong to?
The Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Saker Falcon eat?
The Saker Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Saker Falcon migrate?
The Saker Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Saker Falcon endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Saker Falcon make?
1 real field recording of the Saker Falcon — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Saker Falcon's range?
The Saker Falcon has a mapped global range of about 11.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Falconidae
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Birds of Prey
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern