black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Falco cherrug (Gray, 1834)
Synonyms: Falco cyanopus Tienemann, 1846; Falco saker gurneyi Menzbier, 1888;
Falco hierofalco danubialis Kleinschmidi, 1939; Falco hierofalco aralocaspius
Kleinschmidf, 1939.
Common names: Engl: Saker, Russ: Baloban; Turk: Uludogan; Ukr: Baloban.
Taxonomic description. In 1965-1973 there were at least 12-15 breeding pairs in the
Crimea; 19-25 pairs were reported in 1978-1985. These numbers remained stable
across the mid 1990s.
IUCN Status
World level: VU
Black Sea Regional level: VU
Subregion level: VU
Distribution. Irregular breeding pairs occur in the sea-side districts of the Odessa
region and in the northern parts of the Sivash (Kherson region). Total number of
breeding pairs may be estimated to be within 25-28. Falco cherrug is a rather rare
migrant, but occurs throughout the area. Winter-time numbers hardly reach 10
specimens.
Order FALCONIFORMES
Family FALCONIDAE
Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. In the Crimea they prefer
highland plateau precipices, less frequently cliffs in old forests bordering open areas,
where the species reaches an altitude of 600 metres, rocky sites in the steppe, rocky
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