The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) name derives from the Arabic word Saqr meaning falcon. It has a large range of colour, from dark brown to grey, to almost white. It occurs in the semi-desert and forest regions from Eastern Europe to central Asia, where they are the dominant desert falcon. Saker falcons migrate as far as northern parts of southern Asia and parts of Africa for the winter. Saker females are larger than males. Subspecies include the steppe Saker (Falco cherrug cherrug), the mountain Saker (Falco cherrug milvipes), and the Altai Saker (Falco cherrug altaicus). The saker falcon is a ferocious hunter and often attacks prey that is bigger than itself at speed of up to 200mph.
