Page 57 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Falconidae

21. How do smaller

falcons hunt?

Merlin falcons are the smallest birds of prey that
can be found in the UK. These skilled, fierce
birds typically hunt small- to medium-sized prey,
including house sparrows, horned lark, dunlin and
other shorebirds using a different technique to
the peregrine falcon’s stooping method (although,
like the peregrine falcon, they snatch their food in
mid-air). Merlins generally hunt horizontally or will
attack from below and chase their prey upwards
until their prey is exhausted. During level flight
they can reach speeds of 48 kilometres (30 miles)
per hour but are faster while chasing prey. They
will also prey on dragonflies and small mammals.
Merlins are tactical hunters. They will search for
large flocks of waxwings in pairs, with one merlin
attacking (and thereby breaking up) the flock from There are between
below, while the other will appear seconds later 900 and 1,500 pairs
of breeding falcons
to take advantage of the confusion, making for a in the UK © Thinkstock
quick meal.

24. Do falcons ever share food?
22. Which species of falcon Aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) pairs pass food to each other while
is the most agile hunter? they are in flight. However, if a male takes too long to give food to

his mate, she drags him around in the air until he lets go. Juicy treats
Eurasian hobby falcons (Falco subbuteo) are powerful birds
that can move their prey (mostly dragonflies and small birds include birds, insects, lizards and small mammals.
like martins and swallows) from their talons to their bill and
then consume it while circling in the air. They are even able to
catch small bats while © Thinkstock
flying. Mostly found in
© Thinkstock open grounds like
farmland and marshes,
these high-speed
birds can reach a
velocity of nearly 160
kilometres (99.4 miles)
per hour and are one
of the few predators
able to catch the
agile swifts.
25. Can they hunt in the dark?

As its name suggests, the bat falcon
© Getty (which predominantly hunts bats but

also eats birds and insects) is partly
crepuscular, hunting at dawn and dusk.

26. How do pygmy falcons hunt?

Despite its small size measuring 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) from
head to tail, the pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) is a powerful
predator. It will sit on a perch until it spots an easy meal, bob its head
and tail, then shoot down and strike the prey on the ground. These
falcons mostly eat large insects and lizards.

© Thinkstock

23. Falcon or kestrel?

The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) has a very distinctive hunting
style that is unlike other falcons. Like the common kestrel, it will search
for food on the ground below by hovering and then make a short dive
towards its lunch, grasping its prey in its talons.

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