Red Footed Falcon

Scientific Name- Falco vespertinus

The Dutch name for the Red-footed Falcon is Roodpootvalk / Avondvalk

The Red Footed Falcon is one of the smaller falcons standing about twenty two inches tall with long wings while in flight. The elegant male bird displays a slate grey coloring with spots of brownish red under the tail and on the flank of the leg.

The male has a dark grey upper body and a slightly lighter grey on its belly. The female has more dark markings on its upper part plus dark barrings on its tail. Both the male and female falcons have the distinctive red feet.

As the name indicates, the legs and feet are reddish orange in color. Also the ring around its eye and part of the beak are red orange. When birders see the bird in flight they note the black color on the undersides of its wing.

This bird lives in a wide ranging area from Central Europe and Asia. Also they live from Northern Russia south and from the country of Hungary east to Manchuria and parts of Northern China. Because of its location Hungary has the spring and autumn migration passing over their country.

Bird watching in Hungary The Red Footed Falcon migrates to the western parts of the Pannonian Basin in Hungary. Countries like Belgium, Holland and especially Denmark, have huge numbers of the Red Footed Falcons. The bird wanders into Norfolk and Suffolk in Great Britain regularly in the spring.

Leaf through the birds of prey photos in your Field Guide of birds and you will find the male Red Footed Falcon attracts your eye every time because of its beauty.

Though a lazy flier it is pleasing to the eye, smooth and elegant in flight to the bird watchers. Also birders notice the falcon in its gliding and swooping downward glide to land. Sometimes it will just hover and soar while flying into the wind.

This bird seems to dine on frogs mostly as it seems to prefer this menu. Along with frogs the Red Footed Falcon eats small mammals, small birds and larger insects like grasshoppers.

During the winter months the Red Footed Falcon migrates to the savannas and prairies of southern Africa. Here they lead a gypsy life style, pursuing the insects like flying termites and grasshoppers as their food for the day. In the winter time these insects provide their main diet.

The voice of the Red Footed Falcon is similar to that of the Kestrel but more doleful.

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