Small, brave and impetuous: the Red-footed Falcon was chosen as the "bird of 2021" in Russia

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) is a small, brave, graceful and swift bird. Ornithologists consider it the smallest diurnal raptor species in Russia. The state of the Red-footed Falcon population causes concerns among scientists: in European Russia it encounters about 20 thousand pairs and is steadily decreasing. In many regions of our country, the male fawn is listed in the Red Data Books.

Vladimir Melnikov, President of the Russian Bird Conservation Union:

"Of the small falcons, it is the Red-footed Falcon that is now the most problematic species. It has greatly reduced its numbers throughout its entire range, its colonial settlements have almost disappeared. settle, restore their numbers. It is very important now to identify its most stable nesting grounds, from where this species could re-settle, restoring its numbers."

An adult male Red-footed Falcon cannot be confused with any other representative of small falcons. In its plumage, exquisite dark ash-gray tones on the back and wings are set off by the brick-red color of the lower abdomen and "red pants" (bright feathers on the legs). The saturation of their color is a sign of the bird's reaching puberty. In females, the color is more modest, ocher-gray with longitudinal streaks on the belly. The head is decorated with a graceful dark "mask", ending into a dark "mustache".

The Red-footed Falcon is a tireless hunter. However, small — smaller than pigeon's — size and rather weak and short beak do not allow it to kill large prey. Kobchik is a Lord of large insects, such as locusts, beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies, dragonflies, bees and wasps, which make up about 80% of its very nutritious and protein rich diet. The falcon has a truly amazing coordination of movements, which makes it possible to catch even very small prey both in the air and on the ground. Like the Kestrel, it hovers in the air in fluttering flight, looking for prey. There are observations of how birds accompany grazing herds, grabbing scared away insects. However, if the opportunity presented itself, this small winged predator will not give up on a small rodent or lizard, which are especially important part of its diet during the period of raising chicks.

Despite its small body size, the Red-footed Falcon has a perky, brave and even slightly "cheeky" temter. According to observations, sometimes a tiny male falcon can even fight with a heron, when trying to recapture a profitable nesting territory. Red-footed Falcons often settle in colonies, encountering dozens to hundreds pairs, sometimes in inhabited or abandoned rookery. These are birds with a highly developed social system: if case of danger for the clutch or chicks, all adult birds bravely protect their ciolony members. Red-footed Falcons are very responsible parents. A male never abandons its female hatching or raising chicks. It will catch as much prey as the family needs.

In nesting colonies, the backbone of the future migratory flock is also formed, which heads south in early October. The Red-footed Falconis well adapted to the temperate continental climate, but does not withstand even mild frosts, and prefers to spend the winter in warm countries. They return to their nesting grounds by mid-April. Their favorite habitats are open ones, such as steppe, forest-steppe, farmland. On the contrary, the Red-Footed Falcon does not nest in large forests, since its flight is not adapted to maneuvering between trees.

The revealing of the Red-footed Falcon habitats, the creation of reserves with a special protection regime for this species, the ecological education of the local population — all these are the tasks of the coming year 2021, which for scientists and nature conservationists will pass under the sign of this amazing feathered predator.

---

Sourse: Russian Geographical Society.