Identification

Common name: Mavropetritis (or Varvaki in many areas of the Aegean)

Family: Falconidae

Species: Falco eleonorae

The Eleonora’s Falcon is a dark, medium-sized migratory hawk with long wings. Its length is 36-40 cm. The tail reaches 14-18 cm and has a wingspan of 110-130 cm.

Adult found in two color morphs: a dark, almost full black and a -most common- light in which the body is light reddish brown with longitudinal striations. However, in field conditions even the light morph shows a very dark, almost black bird. It has gregarious habits while individuals may be confused with the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), more stocky and shorter tail, though.