Falcons of South Africa
15 falcons recorded in South Africa on the eBird network and profiled in the Birbs encyclopedia — the full list, with photos, sounds and ID notes, plus what's near you now.
15 falcons have been recorded in South Africa on eBird, the global citizen-science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and carry a full profile in the Birbs encyclopedia. Every bird below is a member of this group — the family Falconidae. Start with the well-known species, browse the complete list, then check which are being reported near you right now.
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Falcons of South Africa to know first
African HobbyFalco cuvierii
Amur FalconFalco amurensis
Dickinson’s KestrelFalco dickinsoni
Eleonora’s FalconFalco eleonorae
Eurasian HobbyFalco subbuteo
Greater KestrelFalco rupicoloides
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus
Lesser KestrelFalco naumanni
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
Pygmy FalconPolihierax semitorquatus
Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinus
Red-necked FalconFalco chicquera
Rock KestrelFalco rupicolus
Sooty FalconFalco concolor
Taita FalconFalco fasciinucha
Keep exploring
- Birds of South Africa
- Hawks, Eagles & Kites of South Africa (51 species)
- Old World Flycatchers & Chats of South Africa (42 species)
- Sandpipers & Allies of South Africa (37 species)
- Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa (35 species)
- Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Africa (33 species)
- Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Africa (33 species)
- Cisticolas & Allies of South Africa (32 species)
- Larks of South Africa (27 species)
- Weavers of South Africa (25 species)
- Wagtails & Pipits of South Africa (24 species)
- Waxbills & Munias of South Africa (23 species)
- Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of South Africa (21 species)
- Plovers of South Africa (20 species)
- Swallows & Martins of South Africa (19 species)
- Cuckoos of South Africa (18 species)
Falcons in other regions
- Falcons of Ecuador (19 species)
- Falcons of Brazil (18 species)
- Falcons of Colombia (18 species)
- Falcons of Kenya (18 species)
- Falcons of Tanzania (18 species)
Species and counts come from the eBird network; "recorded" means reported by birders to eBird. Family grouping follows the IOC World Bird List. Tap any bird for its full profile.
Frequently asked questions
How many falcons are found in South Africa?
15 falcons that we profile appear on South Africa's eBird-reported checklist. The full A–Z list is on this page; the real total can shift as eBird records are added.
Are all of these falcons really found there?
Yes — each one is on South Africa's eBird checklist (reported by birders to the Cornell Lab's eBird), and each of these falcons belongs to the family group named on this page. We don't rank them by abundance, because that varies by season and locale.
Where can I see falcons in South Africa right now?
Use Birds Near You for live, location-based reports, or turn on rare-bird alerts to hear when a notable one shows up close to you.