Lanner falcon

Introduction: Lanner falcons (Falco biarmicus) are most frequently sighted in open grassland, open woodland and agricultural areas. They are found singly or in pairs, often roosting from a prominent site such as a nest cliff.

Distribution: Throughout most of Namibia including the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, Caprivi, Kunene River mouth, Kalahari Desert, Orange River and Fish River Canyon.

Diet: Hunts from the perch or in the air and often at waterholes for birds, small mammals, reptiles and insects.

Description: Rufous crown and nape, grey tail and flight feathers. The Latin word biarmicus literally means 'two-armed' perhaps a reference to the notches on each side of the bill.

Breeding: A nest could consist of a simple scrape in the ground, cliff ledge, nest box or on a building. Females lay between 1 and 5 eggs between May and September and incubated for around 32 days.

Size: 45cm.

Weight: 650g.