falcon
Sign in to saveFalcons () are birds of prey in the genus Falco, which includes about 40 species. Some small species of falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies, and some that hover while hunting are called kestrels. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
AI overview
Falcons are birds of prey belonging to the genus Falco, which contains roughly 40 species found on every continent except Antarctica. They matter as skilled hunters in diverse ecosystems, with different types—including hobbies with long narrow wings and kestrels that hover while hunting—occupying various ecological niches worldwide.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Subclass of
- bird of prey
- Parent taxon
- Falconinae
- Image
- Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) male (16794543415).jpg
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Overview
- Species
- Extinct species
- Fossil record
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus Falco, which includes about 40 species. Some small species of falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies, and some that hover while hunting are called kestrels. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons have thin, tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and change direction rapidly. Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers, which make their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such as a broadwing. This makes flying easier while still learning the aerial skills required to be effective hunters like the adults.