Pygmy Falcon
A species of Pygmy falcons, Also known as Pigmy Falcon Scientific name : Polihierax semitorquatus Genus : Pygmy falcons
Pygmy Falcon, A species of Pygmy falcons
Also known as:
Pigmy Falcon
Botanical name: Polihierax semitorquatus
Genus: Pygmy falcons
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Adult pygmy falcons are white below and on the face, grey above, and females having a chestnut back. There are white "eye spots" on the nape. Juveniles have a brown back, duller than adult females, with a rufous wash on the breast. The flight feathers of the wings are spotted black and white (more black above, more white below); the tail is barred black and white. The flight is low and undulating. In size, pattern, and the habit of perching upright on an exposed branch or treetop, this species resembles some shrikes. The call is "a high-pitched kikiKIK, repeated" (Kenya) or "a 'chip-chip' and a 'kik-kik-kik-kik'" (southern Africa). 
Size
20 cm
Life Expectancy
7-20 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Pygmy Falcon predominantly feeds on small lizards, insects like grasshoppers and beetles, and occasionally small rodents and birds. They exhibit hunting techniques that include perching conspicuously to scan for prey and then swooping down to capture it, leveraging their acute vision. A distinctive preference for agamids and skinks is noted among their varied diet.
Habitat
The pygmy Falcon inhabits arid and semi-arid regions characterized by dry bushlands, thornbrush, scrublands, savannas, and steppes with sparsely distributed ground cover and scattered large trees or tree-like Aloe plants. This area extends across broad geographical terrains from near sea-level up to 1600 meters in elevation. Pygmy Falcon often cohabits and nests within the nests of various weaver species, including the Sociable Weaver and White-headed Buffalo-weaver, as well as nests of sparrow-weavers and certain starlings, favoring the communal and structural benefits they offer.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Diurnal Birds of Prey Family
Falcons and caracaras Genus
Pygmy falcons Species
Pygmy Falcon 
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