Eleonora’s Falcon

Identification

Eleonora's falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey measuring 36–42 cm long with a wingspan of 87–104 cm. It is shaped like a large Eurasian hobby or a small slender peregrine falcon, characterized by long pointed wings, a long tail, and a slim body. The species exhibits two colour morphs. The dark morph is entirely sooty brown with black underwing coverts, while the light morph resembles a juvenile Eurasian hobby but features buff underparts and striking contrast between black underwing coverts and paler flight feather bases. Young birds display pale underparts that contrast with darker wingtips and wing coverts. The bird's call is a typical falcon kek-kek-kek.

Range & Habitat

Eleonora's falcon breeds primarily on Mediterranean islands, with approximately two-thirds of the world's population nesting in Greece. Other breeding populations occur in Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Ibiza, and off the coasts of Spain, Italy, Croatia, Morocco, and Algeria. The island of Tilos in the Dodecanese supports roughly 10 per cent of the global population, with around 650 breeding pairs. The species is rare as a vagrant north of its breeding range.

This is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Madagascar and also inhabiting the coasts of Mozambique. Recent satellite telemetry has revealed that the migration route runs inland through the African continent, covering up to 9,000 km for a single one-way journey. The route passes through the Sahara Desert and equatorial rainforests before reaching Kenya and Mozambique, contradicting earlier theories of a coastal route via the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.

Behaviour & Diet

Eleonora's falcon is a specialist hunter of migrating birds, exhibiting a delayed breeding season in late summer to capitalize on the abundance of migrants passing through Mediterranean islands. It captures small birds in flight using remarkable speed and aerobatic skills, cruising along coastal cliffs with steady wingbeats while searching for exhausted incoming migrants. The species also feeds on large insects such as dragonflies, transferring prey from talons to beak and consuming it in flight. Occasionally, it has been observed feeding on bats.

Uniquely, this falcon imprisons live prey in rock crevices, removing flight feathers from small birds and feeding them to chicks sometimes days later—a behaviour unmatched among bird species. It is also one of the few falcon species that breeds in colonies, nesting on coastal cliffs and laying up to four eggs.

Best Time & Places to See It

The breeding season in late summer and early autumn offers the best opportunity to observe Eleonora's falcon, when birds are actively hunting migrants and feeding colonies. Greek islands, particularly Tilos in the Dodecanese, are prime locations where substantial populations can be observed. The Canary Islands, Cyprus, and islands off Spain, Italy, and Morocco also provide reliable viewing opportunities during the breeding season.

Photography Tips

Photograph this falcon along coastal cliffs where it hunts migrants, focusing on capturing its characteristic long pointed wings and slim silhouette in flight. The contrast between dark and light morphs offers interesting compositional opportunities. Early morning and late afternoon light along cliff faces provides optimal conditions for capturing both hunting behaviour and the striking underwing patterns that distinguish this species. Patient observation of cliff-side hunting perches will reward photographers with dynamic in-flight images.