Lanner falcon

Lanner falcons have an elegant silhouette with a slender body, long pointed wings and a relatively long tail. The breast is pale with fine streaking, the back coloured slate grey to brownish. Typical features are the pale head with a characteristic dark ‘moustache’ marking under the eye and a conspicuous dark eye stripe.

In flight the lanner falcon stands out through its acrobatic movements and rapid, powerful wingbeats. Adult birds have a blue-grey upper side and rust-coloured areas on the nape, while juveniles appear somewhat browner overall. Strong yellow legs and talons are another clear identifying feature.