Saker Falcon

This powerful bird is the second largest falcon species in the world with a wing span of up to 129 cm. Because of its speed and strength, the saker falcon has been used in falconry for thousands of years. Specially adapted to hunt horizontally along the ground, this bird swoops low over its prey, reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour! Saker falcons prefer remote areas like deserts and arid mountainous country, where they can hunt over a large territory.

In the wild, this species faces increasing pressure from habitat loss and has seen a dramatic decline across Asia. However, in Hungary, where the saker falcon is now protected, numbers are much healthier.