Distribution of the species
The species has an Ethiopian type of distribution. It breeds in Africa (with the exception of the forest regions and Southern Somalia), the near East, Asia Minor and Southern Europe. In Bulgaria the species is constantly distributed. There is some information about the species, the latter being from southwestern Bulgaria, south of the Dragoman-Svilengrad line, including the Eastern Rhodopes and Rila.
Description of the species (biological and ecological features)
In Bulgaria, the Lanner falcon reaches a body size of 42 cm and a wingspan of 102 cm. The color of the adults on top is gray, only the nape and scalp are rusty brown, and below are whit whitish black teardrop-shaped spots on the neck and abdomen. The juveniles are brown in color, and the spots on the lower part of the body are larger and densely arranged.
It mainly feeds on small and moderately large birds. It hunts in flight near the ground. At the beginning of March, it lays 3 (2-5) eggs. The parents incubate for 32-35 days and feed the young for 35-47 days. They leave the nest at the end of May. In the winter some birds descend to the valleys.
They inhabit rocky areas adjacent to forests, rarely to river valleys. They are found in dry areas, bush terrains of the Mediterranean type, high mountains (and over 2000 m above sea level).
Conservation status
Unknown.
Conservation state
The species is included in the Red Book of Bulgaria with the category “Critically Endangered” (CR), 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 Lanner falcon is on 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).