Photo: Frank Vassen / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sooty Falcon
Falco concolor
Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 250 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Falco
- Species concolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 250 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sooty Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Sooty Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) belongs to the Falconidae family of the order Falconiformes. It is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL e Libya to sw Pakistan.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 250 g, with a wing length of about 26.9 cm and a tail of around 12.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 375,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sooty Falcon?
The Sooty Falcon is a large bird that weighs around 250 g.
Where does the Sooty Falcon live?
The Sooty Falcon is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering AF, PAL e Libya to sw Pakistan, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Sooty Falcon belong to?
The Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Sooty Falcon eat?
The Sooty Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Sooty Falcon migrate?
The Sooty Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Sooty Falcon endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Sooty Falcon make?
1 real field recording of the Sooty Falcon can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sooty Falcon's range?
The Sooty Falcon has a mapped global range of about 375,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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