Eleonora's Falcon

Global Range: During the breeding season, they nest primarily on islands in the Mediterranean basin, notably Greece, Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Ibiza, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Morocco, and Algeria.

Migration Routes: They possess one of the longest continuous migration routes in the world. Departing breeding grounds in late October or early November, they cross the African continent to winter in Madagascar and surrounding Mascarene islands.

Primary Environment: Prefer steep, inaccessible sea cliffs and uninhabited rocky islets for nesting.

Hunting Grounds: Primarily hunt over open sea, but also patrol coastal shorelines, wetlands, grasslands, and occasionally open woodlands. Prior to breeding, they may travel hundreds of kilometers inland to forage for insects.

Diet: Highly seasonal dietary shift. For most of the year they feed primarily on large flying insects (e.g. dragonflies), switching entirely to migratory passerines during the breeding season.

Hunting Technique: Beside classic high-speed falcon stoops, they excel at prolonged aerial pursuits over open water.

Delayed Breeding Strategy: While most Northern Hemisphere birds breed in spring, Eleonora's Falcon delays egg hatching until late August or early September. This perfectly synchronizes with the autumn migration of millions of small songbirds crossing the Mediterranean to Africa, providing an abundant food supply for their chicks.

Colonial Defense & Twilight Hunting: Nest in loose colonies of up to 300 pairs. Colony airspace is fiercely defended against intruders like gulls and pigeons. They are among the few diurnal raptors capable of hunting in low light and civil twilight after sunset.