Falco pelegrinoides - Barbary Falcon
Feather characters. Barbules are rather long (1.9-2.3 mm). Pigment is absent or concentrated in nodes. Occasionally some pigment may be found in parts of internodes. Slightly thickened nodes (12-13 per mm) are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules, only slightly decreasing in size towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum. Occasionally minute prongs are found on proximal end of barbules.
Field characters. Length 34-40 cm; wingspan 80-100 cm. Weight: female 610 g (609-610) (Cramp (chief ed.), 1979). Structure and basic features similar to Peregrine, but slightly smaller. Upperparts pale slate-blue, lower back and rump paler grey, contrasting with darker rear end of uppertail; underparts pale buffish-pink (except for white chin), with flanks and breast lightly streaked or barred dusky; forehead buff or cinnamon, central crown dark, supercilium buff (absent in dark individuals), nape rufous (female) to rusty (male). Mostly resembles Mediterranean race of Peregrine (F. p. brookei), but upperparts paler, head pattern different (forehead pale; nape rufous, more extended than in occasional individuals of brookei also showing this character; moustache narrower; ear-coverts paler); underparts more narrowly streaked or barred. Juvenile very similar to juvenile of brookei, but generally with more distinct pale forehead, supercilium, and nape; breast streaking slightly thinner.
Voice. Very similar to Peregrine.
Distribution. Scarce resident or partial migrant; generally replacing Peregrine in arid regions in N Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Usually in more barren landscape than Peregrine, preferring semi-deserts with rocky hills, but also breeds along the Nile.
Food. Chiefly birds up to the size of pigeons or ducks, caught in the same way as Peregrine.