The red-necked falcon is a bird of prey in the falcon family with two disjunct populations, one in India and the other in Africa. This medium-sized falcon has bluish grey wings and upper body, a chestnut red cap with short chin straps passing through the eye. The primary feathers of the wing are black and a single black band at the tip of the tail are distinctive. The Indian subspecies Falco chicquera chicquera also known as the red-headed merlin or red-headed falcon is found mainly in the open plains of the India Subcontinent although it is thought to have occurred further west in southeastern Iran. The subspecies Falco chicquera ruficollis found in sub-Saharan Africa is sometimes treated as a full species, the rufous-necked falcon, on the basis of its well-separated geographic range and distinctive pattern. It appears very similar to the Indian form but has dark barring on the upperparts, a rufous breast band, and black moustachial and eye stripes. As in most falcons, the females are larger and falconers in India called the female turumti and the male as chatwa. They hunt in pairs mostly at dawn and dusk, capturing small birds, bats and squirrels.
Region
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Found across open plains and agricultural mosaics of the Indian subcontinent, and widely in savannas and dry woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It favors scattered trees, palm groves, and edges of cultivation where small birds are abundant. Often uses tall perches such as palms, telegraph poles, or dead snags to launch hunts. Occurs near wetlands, irrigated fields, and village outskirts but generally avoids dense forests. Pairs maintain territories around nest sites.
Altitude Range
0–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The red-necked falcon occurs in two disjunct populations: one across the Indian subcontinent and another in sub-Saharan Africa. It often hunts in coordinated pairs, flying fast and low to flush small birds. Indian birds show a rufous cap and cleaner grey upperparts with pale underparts, while the African form adds heavier upperpart barring and a rufous breast band. It frequently nests in old corvid or kite nests placed in tall trees or palms, sometimes near human settlements.
A young F. c. chicquera with rufous on the back and shoulders
Levaillant's specimen from Bengal (1799)
Drawn from nature by Elizabeth Gould (1832)
Temperament
pair-bonded and territorial
Flight Pattern
fast, low contour flight with short rapid wingbeats and swift stoops
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in bonded pairs that often hunt cooperatively. Nests are typically old stick nests of crows or kites in tall trees or palms; clutches usually number 3–4 eggs. Pairs defend the immediate nest area vigorously and may reuse favored sites across years.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are sharp, rapid kek-kek-kek alarm calls, especially near the nest. Also gives high, chattering notes and harsh scolds during territorial disputes.
