Pygmy Falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)
About the Pygmy Falcon
The African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)—or simply pygmy falcon—is a diminutive raptor native to eastern and southern Africa. It is the sole species in its monotypic genus, Polihierax. The pygmy falcon is the smallest bird of prey on the African continent, and among the smallest raptors on earth; only the Asian falconets (of the genus Microhierax) are smaller, weighing roughly 30-40 grams less and measuring about 5 cm shorter from head to tail. Adult pygmy falcons are 20 cm (7.9 in) in length and 54 to 76 g (1.9–2.7 oz) in weight.
No audio on this page yet
We only publish recordings we may use commercially, because this site is supported by ads. xeno-canto lists 4 recordings for this species: 1 CC BY-NC-ND. None of them permits commercial use, so there is no player here — the page is kept as a profile so the bird is not missing from the guide.
As soon as someone uploads a freely licensed recording, we mirror it and the player appears here.
Listed as recorded in Ethiopia, Namibia, South Africa in the xeno-canto catalogue.
Other birds you can hear here
- African Pied WagtailMotacilla aguimprecording
- African Reed WarblerAcrocephalus baeticatusrecording
- Barn SwallowHirundo rusticarecording
- Black CrakeZapornia flavirostrarecording
- Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticoraxrecording
- Black-crowned TchagraTchagra senegalusrecording
These are the birds recorded alongside it, not close relatives — the site holds no other member of its genus or family yet.