Kollam: A rare falcon with a giant wingspan has made its first-ever appearance in Kerala. The endangered Laggar Falcon, also known as the Falcon Jaggar, was spotted on Vellanathuruth Island near Karunagappally, Kollam.

The sighting happened during a bird survey conducted as part of the Onam Bird Count and the Kerala Beach Conservation Initiative. The team that spotted the falcon included Ambady Sugathan, Faizal Fasaluddin, Harish R Iyer, J Praveen, Adarsh Ajay, Rasheeda Mol, Rahna Alpha, Shiyas and Ram Madhav. Laggar Falcons are rarely seen in South Indian skies, making this sighting especially significant.

This predatory bird is usually found across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and northeastern Myanmar. With this sighting, the total number of bird species recorded in Kerala has risen to 561, marking the 388th species reported from Kollam.

The laggar falcon is usually around 40 cm long, with a wingspan ranging from 88 to 107 cm, making it larger than many other falcon species. Its distinguishing features include broad wings, a sharply edged tail and a prominent white marking above the eyes resembling eyebrows.

ADVERTISEMENT

These falcons usually hunt in open areas, swooping down rapidly to catch smaller birds and mammals. 

TAGS

Google News Add as a preferred source on Google
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.