African Pygmy Falcon

The African Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus) is the smallest raptor in Africa. It lives in eastern and southern Africa.

It is only 20 centimetres (8 inches) tall. It is a grey and white bird of prey, with a red eye ring and pink legs. It has short, rounded wings.

The African Pygmy Falcon likes dry lands with lots of thorn bushes and plains with few trees.

It eats lizards, insects, small birds, and rodents, such as rats.

It usually takes over the nest of weaver birds instead of building its own nest.

Females lay 2-3 eggs and raise their chicks together with the male.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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