Rare Bird Captured on Camera
2025-08-11 12:00:00 / News
The saker falcon is a large bird of prey from the falcon family, listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan and the IUCN Red List as an endangered subspecies. Its wingspan reaches 35–43 cm, with females weighing 820–980 g and males 970–1,130 g. This raptor inhabits steppe, desert, and forest-steppe zones, and can be found both in mountainous areas and on lowland plains of Uzbekistan. Saker falcons build their nests on trees and cliffs, and sometimes use power line poles. They feed mainly on birds and rodents. Between February and March, the female lays 3–5 eggs and incubates them for about 28 days, with chicks taking their first flights in May–June.
Observing a saker falcon in the wild is a rare and valuable event, as the species’ population in the region remains critically low: currently there are no more than 70 breeding pairs in the country, with several hundred individuals possibly encountered during migration and wintering. Recording such sightings helps experts monitor population status and develop conservation measures.
For reference: The Surkhan State Reserve was established on 8 September 1986 in the Sherabad district of Surkhandarya region. Today, it is home to 194 species of vertebrates, including 26 species of mammals, 137 species of birds, 24 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians and 5 species of fish.