Hello feathered friends.

Today I'll talk about the [red-footed falcon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-footed_falcon) (Falco vespertinus). 
It is the smallest bird of prey in Europe. It does not make its own nest, but nests colonially in the already made nests of [the rook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(bird)) (Corvus frugilegus).

![img_1257.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYe4HTmFMAbhz1QFLP5AkCXZHoyBuYTMZk3F8KjEoMcnq/img_1257.jpg)

The body length of the red-footed falcon ranges from 23 to 32 cm, the wingspan from 65 to 77 cm. Sexual dimorphism is present in this species. The female has a gray back and wings, a white face with a black stripe around the eye that extends towards the beak. The male is blue-gray, except for the legs, and the area below the tail.

![img_1253.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmfA7SoWabvHgXXGREjCz9irJRCcaXsX5acMfAydtUfN8m/img_1253.jpg)

![img_1254.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmfD8N82bB89kKXHnJnsLRQ4c8uPCUgXtr5c3r7uQisYSc/img_1254.jpg)

It used to live all over Europe but is now more of an Asian bird. Eastern Europe represents the western border of its distribution, while to the east it extends to Manchuria. They spend the winter in southwest Africa in the Okavango Delta.

It feeds most often on large insects, small mammals, frogs, lizards, and small birds.

This female miraculously set off in pursuit of the gull. She was probably just defending its territory because the gull is too big a bite for her.

![img_1252_2_.jpg](https://images.ecency.com/DQmc3RpJGpwdSNPwrFXQLBQdM5gkVXJ1M1KdS1xpyT3C1AT/img_1252_2_.jpg)

In Serbia, the current population is estimated at 100 to 150 couples. The main threat to the survival of this species is the disappearance of nesting sites and the destruction of habitats.

Thanks for stopping by.