I spent close to an hour with this delightful Red-necked Falcon (Falco chicquera) on the outskirts of Bangalore watching him stretch, rest and look for prey. Finally, I saw the little raptor hunt down — quite easily — a Paddyfield pipit (Anthus rufulus).
The red-necked falcon occurs in two distinct, isolated populations, one in south Asia, and the other throughout most of the arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The nominate subspecies, F. c. chicquera, ranges from Pakistan, east through India to Bangladesh and Nepal.
It occurs in open habitats with sparse vegetation and scattered trees, including riparian habitats, woodland edges, dry watercourses, and palm savanna. Typically a grassland bird in India, a fast disappearing habitat.
Chosen as 'Picture of the Week'
The red-necked falcon occurs in two distinct, isolated populations, one in south Asia, and the other throughout most of the arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The nominate subspecies, F. c. chicquera, ranges from Pakistan, east through India to Bangladesh and Nepal.