Pygmy Falcon

Polihierax semitorquatus

Other Names

  African Pygmy-falcon   Fauconnet d'Afrique, Fauconnet pygmé d'Afrique   Halsband-Zwergfalke   Halconcito Africano   Pygméfalk   Afrikaanse Dwergvalk   Falchetto africano

World: East Africa, including from extreme se Sudan through Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania

Kenya: Bird of dry open bush and wooded areas below 1600m. Absent only from the coast, the moist highlands and the Lake Victoria basin

Pygmy Falcons are fairly common birds which can found in the same areas as the White-headed Buffalo Weaver, whose unoccupied nests they use for breeding. Normally seen singly or in pairs, these diminutive birds of prey can be seen perching on exposed branches from which they fly down and take small reptiles or large insects. With a length of only 20cm these really are "pygmy" falcons