African Pygmy Falcon
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| Polihierax semitorquatus (Smith, 1836) |
The African Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus is a small falcon that lives in eastern and southern Africa. It is only 19-20 cm long. This small falcon preys on insects, small reptiles and even small mammals.
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[edit] Sex and age identification
Female pygmy falcons have white breasts and white eye spots on the back of the head. Male pygmy falcons have a light brown colored breasts and correspondingly colored eyespots on the back of ther heads. Fully flighted juvenilles are difficult to distinguish from adults, but can be identified by their "less orange" coloration on the leg scales when compared with adults.
[edit] Predation of Sociable Weavers
Pygmy Falcons predominantly nest in the vacant rooms of a Sociable Weaver nest--even if the Sociable Weavers still have an active colony residing in the large, multichambered nest. Despite being bird-eaters, the Pygmy Falcons largely leave the smaller Sociable Weavers along--though they do occasionally catch and eat nestlings and even adults. (2)
[edit] Polyandry of Pygmy Falcons
Pygmy falcons occasionally engage in polyandrous relationships, where there are more than two adults living together and tending nestlings. There are four potential reasons for this behavior: (1) Defense, (2) Co-operative polyandry, (3) Delayed dispersal of offspring, and/or (4) thermoregulation benefits (warmth). The latter appears to be potentially viable as the pygmy falcons will nest further inside the nest of Sociable Weavers, where there is better insulation, during winters. (3)
[edit] Subspecies
P. s. semitorquatus and P. s. castanotus
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Polihierax semitorquatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
(2) Ostrich 2004, 75(4) 325-326. "Pygmy Falcon predation of nestlings of their obligate host, the sociable weaver." ISSN: 0030–6525.
(3) Ostrich 2004, 75(4) 322-324. "Co-operative breeding in the Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus." ISSN: 0030-6525.
[edit] External links
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