Eleonora’s falcon

This species is with a Mediterranean type of distribution whose world population is concentrated around the Mediterranean. In Europe there are about 5 900 pairs. In Bulgaria, the species has a safe nesting along the Black Sea coast, Eastern Rhodopes, Western Rhodopes and the valley of the Struma River, and possible nesting – in the Eastern Balkans, Rila and Tundzha Rivel valley. There are also wandering birds, registered in the Western Rhodopes, highest at 1926 m above sea level.

In Bulgaria, the Eleonora’s falcon has a body length of 38 cm and a wingspan of 120 cm. Adults have a light plumage phase, in which they are dark brown or black on top, their head and throat are whitish, and the rest of the lower body is rust-brown with black stripes. In the dark phase, the plumage is completely black. The juveniles in both phases on top are lighter with whitish edges of the feathers.

With a late multiplication period (from July to September-October). They feed on domestic pigeons and hooves, as well as large insects. They inhabit sea shores, various rocky areas, mountain meadows and plateaus.

Unknown.

The species is present in the Red Book of Bulgaria with the category “Endangered Species” (EN), as well as in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA). It is also included in Annex I to Directive 2009/147 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds.

The Eleonora’s falcon is also included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – with the category “Least Concern” (LC).

*Note: For the description of birds is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Michev T., D. Simeonov, L. Profirov. 2012. Birds of the Balkan Peninsula. Ecotan, Sofia, 300 pp; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).