Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) [XC452291]
by Frank Lambert from Baga Bogt, Baruunbayan-Ulaan, \u00d6v\u00f6rkhangai, Mongolia (flight call, two birds)
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) [XC412091]
by Frank Lambert from Baga Bogt, Baruunbayan-Ulaan, \u00d6v\u00f6rkhangai, Mongolia (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), and perhaps also Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) and Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger) and possibly even Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus).
Status of form altaicus controversial, and has been considered a separate species, or a subspecies of Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus). Now usually reckoned to be morph of Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug); nevertheless, breeds significantly earlier than other nearby populations of present species.
Possible subspecies coatsi (from Uzbekistan) and progressus (east-central Asia) apparently rather distinctive; several other subspecies may be valid, including perhaps cyanopus (central and eastern Europe), and unnamed population from deserts east of Caspian Sea.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
cherrug Gray, 1834 - Central Europe east through south-western Russia, Ukraine and Iran to R Yenisey and foothills of Altai. Winters from Europe and north-eastern Africa east to north-western India.
milvipes Jerdon, 1871 - South-eastern Siberia, northern Mongolia and northern China south to western and central China. Winters from Iran east to Nepal and north-western India, Tibet and central China.
coatsi Dementiev, 1945 - Central Asia to southern Siberia and northern China.
hendersoni Hume, 1871 - Western and southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet