Lanner
In Abruzzo live from 13 to 20 couples of Lanner that is the largest Italian
population, except of the islands. On the whole the Lanner is a still
unknown species and the data about this bird are very few. Recent researches
in the Park territory point out the presence of 2-3 nesting couples.
The
defence and the monitoring of their nests represent a necessary preservation
strategy for Majella National Park.
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Description |
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The Lanner is a medium-sized hawk. It is lightly smaller than
Peregrine one and bigger than Kestrel. Compared with the first
the Lanner it has a more extended and slender shape, reddish
head with narrow moustaches and lightly accentuated crossings on
its lower parts. The wings are longer and narrower, but less
sharpened, and the tail is longer. This bird has a powerful
flight, with slow wingbeats and flat wings. During the circling
its wings are flat or lightly lowered. Next to the rocky faces,
where it build their nest, the Lanner performs acrobatics and
fast glides keeping its wings angled. |
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Behaviour |
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During all over the year the Lanner has a real bent for hunting
that is often carried out in couple. Inside the couple, which
usually is lasting for a lifetime, the female is bigger than
male even more than one third and it has the job of scaring the
preys with hedgehoppings while the male catches them with a
nosedive. It is very devoted to its nest-building places and to
its territory even though it doesn’t show an extreme
aggressiveness. Beginning from December, during the bridal
parades, the Lanner performs extraordinary acrobatics usually
next to the chosen place for the nest-building. |
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Feeding |
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It mainly preys small and medium-sized birds, to a small extent
micromammals, bats, reptiles, insects and amphibians. The
favourite preys in the Park territory are the magpies and other
corvids (carrion-crows, jackdaws, ecc), wild pigeons, small
passeridae (goldfinches, chaffinches, starlings ecc.). |
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Habitat |
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The ideal habitat of Lanner is hill zones or sunny piedmonts -
typical Mediterranean environment - under 800 meters, with large
and extents of open grounds where it can hunt or close to an
isolated harshness able to receive the nest. |
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Presence and Sighting |
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Also concerning to this species, the sighting during the flight
is the undisputed evidence of its presence, even if difficult
for an untrained eye since the Lanner can be confused with the
Peregrine. In the mating period, this animal shouts very much
with shrill and piercing cries the meaning of which is uncertain.
When it is worried its cries are husky and guttural, insistently
repeated and audibles from long distance. |
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Life Span |
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There are no data or checks in the scientific literature. |
Edited by Siro Baliva e Marco Liberatore – Majella National Park Authority.
Rapacious - Hawk, Kite, Buzzard... (Length 38")
