Saker falcon

Found in plains and foothills of Azerbaijan during wintering and migration. Desert and semi-desert areas of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Western China

The saker falcon is a powerful bird of prey belonging to the falcon family. Its diet consists mainly of rodents, birds and sometimes small mammals. When hunting, it dives rapidly from a height and catches its prey with a sudden blow. It has long been an important bird in falconry, i.e., its training as a hunting bird. Its population in the wild has declined, mainly due to habitat loss, power line accidents, and illegal hunting.