Author: Arjun Amar, Associate Professor, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town

Falcons are found worldwide, from the fast and slick hobbies to the large and powerful gyrfalcon of the Arctic tundra. In Africa, falcons are found across many habitats. Several species are unique to the continent, including the endangered Taita falcon, which nests on high cliffs, and the greater kestrel, which breeds in the old nests of other species, particularly crows. There are 39 species of falcon in the world. They occur on all continents except Antarctica. Falcons belong to a group of unrelated birds called raptors (or birds of prey), which are distinguished mainly by their hooked beaks, keen eyesight…