Falcons

(Common) Kestrel Pocaire Gaoithe (Coitianta) Falco tinnunculus

Common resident breeding species and winter visitor throughout the county.

Global Distribution: Europe, Africa and Asia.

 

Summer Distribution

 

Winter Distribution

Red-footed Falcon Fabhcún Cosdearg Falco vespertinus

Rare vagrant.

Seven county records up to the end of 2020.

2017 Barryroe/Dunworley, one on the 25th May.
2012 Owenahincha, adult male, 24th May.
2012 Cape Clear, female, 27th March.
1997 Churchtown South, an adult female from the 9th to the 17th May.
1995 Ballymacoda, a first-summer male on the 15th April.
1994 Cape Clear Island, a second-year male on the 4th May.
1991 Cape Clear Island, an adult male on the 31st May.

Global Distribution: Breeds in eastern Europe and west, central and north-central Asia, with its main range from Belarus south to Hungary, northern Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Moldova and east Bulgaria, eastward through Ukraine and north-west and south Russia and north Kazakhstan to extreme north-west China and the upper Lena river (Russia). It winters in southern Africa, from South Africa northwards to southern Kenya. (Birdlife International)

Merlin Meirliún Falco columbarius

Very scarce (and probably declining) breeding species on upland moorland in the north of the county.
Otherwise uncommon on the coast with numbers increased by passage migrants and winter visitors.

The subspecies Taiga Merlin F. columbarius columbarius was recorded at Cape Clear on the 29th September 2000.
This was the 1st county and 2nd Western Palearctic record.

The subspecies Icelandic Merlin F. columbarius subaesalon is found regularly in Ireland and almost certainly in county Cork.

Global Distribution: Europe, Asia, North America and Iceland.

 

Summer Distribution

 

Winter Distribution

 

Hobby Fabhcún Coille Falco subbuteo

Occasional passage migrant with most sightings between April and October.

124 records involving 123 birds (one, a returning individual) up to the end of 2020 with 57 records between 2010 and the end of 2013 alone.

Birds were seen at the following locations: Ballinwilling, Ballycotton, Ballymacoda, Ballyvergan Marsh, Baltimore, Belgooly, Brow Head, Cape Clear Island, Carrigrohan, Castlemary (Cloyne), Castletownbere, Cloonkeen East, Cuskinny Marsh, Dursey Island, Dursey Island, Glanmire, Glengarriff, Gokane House (near Skibbereen), Gyleen, Inch Strand, Kilbrittain, Kilcolman NNR, Kilkerran Lake, Killeagh, Knockgriffin (Midleton), Minane Bridge, Mizen Head and Lissagriffin, Old Head of Kinsale, Pilmore, Robert’s Cove, Roche’s Point, Rostellan, Sherkin Island, Skibbereen, Three Castles Head, Mizen Head, White’s Marsh (Clonakilty)Yougal,
Of those aged, the majority were adults. All records between April and October with most in May and October.

Global Distribution: Europe, Africa and Asia.

Gyrfalcon Fabhcún Mór Falco rusticolus

Rare vagrant.

Nine county records up to the end of 2020.

2009 A white morph at Lisgoold north of Midleton on 13th April
2002 A white morph at Drinagh on the 11th February.
2001 A white morph at Brow Head on the 29th and 30th August.
1970 Near Midleton, immature male, shot, 6th March.
1931 One, Castletownbere, 19th October (INJ).
1925 One, Glengarriff, in June.
1905 One, Mizen Head, one obtained/shot March. (Kennedy et al 1954)
1888 One, Fastnet Rock, 5th December. (Ussher & Warren 1900)
1883 One, Blackrock, captured alive on 23rd November. (Ussher & Warren 1900)

Global Distribution: breeds in Greenland, Iceland, Fennoscandia and arctic Russia, with
Europe accounting for a tiny proportion of its global breeding range.

Peregrine Fabhcún Gorm Falco peregrinus

Uncommon resident breeding species, both on the coast and inland. May be increasing. Also winter visitor.

Global Distribution: Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America, Greenland and Iceland.

 

Summer Distribution

 

Winter Distribution