Hierofalco
| Hierofalcons | |
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Yeti, a hybrid white gyrfalcon × saker falcon. Hierofalcons hybridize readily, and offspring are often fully fertile. |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes |
| Family: | Falconidae |
| Genus: | Falco |
| Subgenus: |
Hierofalco Cuvier, 1817 |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
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Jerafalco Kaup, 1850 (unjustified emendation) |
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Falco biarmicus
Falco cherrug
Falco jugger
Falco rusticolus
Jerafalco Kaup, 1850 (unjustified emendation)
Falco hierofalco (see text)
The hierofalcons are four closely related species of falcon which make up the subgenus Hierofalco:
The black falcon of Australia is occasionally considered allied to the hierofalcons: indeed it seems fairly close to them (Wink et al. 2004). Out of these four only Lagger falcon is found in India in natural habitat.
They represent members of their genus which are similar to species like the peregrine falcon in outward appearance, but usually with more phaeomelanins which impart reddish or brown colors, and generally more strongly patterned plumage reminiscent of hawks. Their undersides usually have a lengthwise pattern of dark blotches, lines or arrowhead marks. They hunt usually in level flight, more like goshawks than peregrines with their dive attack or hobbies with their acrobatic pursuits.
Recent DNA sequence data studies have confirmed that the hierofalcons are a monophyletic group - and, incidentally, that hybridization runs rampant in the present species complex. Initial results of mtDNA sequence analyses that suggested they are basal among all living falcons were in error, due to a numt (Wink & Sauer-Gürth 2000). The biogeographically entirely distinct prairie falcon was sometimes placed with the hierofalcons due to its similar coloration; it is now considered not to belong in this subgenus, the similarities being the result of convergent evolution in adaptation to similar habitat.
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