Laggar falcon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laggar falcon |
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| In Rajasthan, India | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Falco
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| Species: |
jugger
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The laggar falcon (Falco jugger) is a medium-sized bird of prey. It is also called the lugger falcon or jugger. The name "jugger" comes from the Hindi word for falcon. These birds live in the Indian subcontinent. You can find them in places like southeastern Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Laggar falcons look a lot like lanner falcons. However, laggar falcons are generally darker. They have dark feathers on their upper legs, which look like "trousers." Young falcons have very dark undersides. Even after their first year, they still have a lot of dark color on their bellies.
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Meet the Laggar Falcon: A Swift Hunter
The laggar falcon is part of a special group of falcons called hierofalcons. These falcons are very closely related. Scientists believe all living hierofalcons developed around 130,000 to 115,000 years ago. This was during a warmer period called the Eemian interglacial. The laggar falcon's ancestors likely came from eastern Africa. They traveled through the Arabian Peninsula, which was wetter back then.
What Do Laggar Falcons Look Like?
Adult laggar falcons have plain whitish underparts. They have a thin, dark stripe on their face, near their beak. Their head can be slightly reddish, and their upper parts are bluish-gray. The bare skin around their eyes and beak is a darker yellow.
Laggar falcons can look a bit different from each other. For example, a male might have a darker head than a female. These small differences are normal for the species.
Where Do Laggar Falcons Live?
Laggar falcons live across a wide area in Asia. Their home range includes:
- Southeastern Iran
- Southeastern Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- India
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Bangladesh
- Northwestern Myanmar
They prefer open areas like deserts, grasslands, and farmland. They often live near villages or towns.
Why Are Laggar Falcons Important?
Laggar falcons are important predators in their environment. They help control the populations of small animals. This keeps the ecosystem healthy and balanced.
What Do Laggar Falcons Eat?
These falcons are skilled hunters. They mostly eat small birds and mammals. They also hunt lizards, like the Indian spiny-tailed lizard. They are known for their speed and agility in the air.
Protecting the Laggar Falcon
Laggar falcons used to be very common in their region. Sadly, their numbers have gone down a lot recently. Today, they are not a common species anywhere.
What Threats Do Laggar Falcons Face?
There are two main reasons why laggar falcon numbers are declining:
- Pesticide Use: More and more pesticides are being used in farming. These chemicals can harm the falcons directly or by poisoning their prey.
- Trapping: Laggar falcons are sometimes used as "decoys." This means they are used to attract and trap larger falcons. This practice removes laggar falcons from the wild.
Because of these threats, the laggar falcon is now considered a "Near Threatened" species. This means they could become endangered if we don't protect them. Efforts are needed to reduce pesticide use and stop illegal trapping.
Gallery
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Same as previous.
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Same as previous; feeding on Indian spiny-tailed lizard (Saara hardwickii).
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The prey's spiny tail was not eaten.
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Laggar falcon begins a swoop at Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, (India)
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Egg of Falco jugger MHNT
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Laggar falcon with a just caught Indian spiny-tailed lizard (Saara hardwickii)
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