18th century illustration of a red-necked falcon (Falco chicquera), a bird of prey in the falcon family with two distinct populations, one in India and the other in Africa. This medium-sized falcon has bluish grey wings and upper body, a chestnut red cap with short chin straps passing through the eye. The primary feathers of the wing are black and a single black band at the tip of the tail are distinctive. From Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique (Natural History of Birds of Africa) by Franeois Le Vaillant (1753-1824), published in Paris, France in 1799. |