Barbary falcon: incubation period, weaning age and breeding
Barbary falcon eggs hatch after 29–32 days of incubation. Chicks fledge at 35–40 days and are weaned and independent at about 70–90 days. A typical clutch is 3–4 eggs.
Breeding numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Adult weight (g) | 330-750 |
| Male weight (g) | 330-400 |
| Female weight (g) | 610-750 |
| Length (cm) | 33-39 |
| Wing chord (mm) | m 265-290, f 300-335 |
| Clutch size | 3-4 |
| Incubation (days) | 29-32 |
| Fledging (days) | 35-40 |
| Weaning / independence (days) | 70-90 |
| Lifespan (years) | 12-18 |
| Breeding season | Wild: lays Feb-April (earlier than peregrine). Captive: Feb-March; AI common for hybrids (gyr x barbary). |
| Sexing | Reverse size dimorphism: female ~1/3 heavier (falconers: falcon vs tiercel; Gulf: "tabaa" for the male peregrine, "qarmousha" or "wakri" for the male saker). Chicks and hybrids: DNA (feather/blood) is reliable; size alone overlaps between species and hybrids. |
| Moult | Gulf practice: moulting room ("mqeez") mid-April/May to Sept/Oct after the season; one complete moult per year, natural moult starts in the breeding season (females during incubation). |
| Quarry | Pigeons, sandgrouse, small to medium birds; small for houbara. |
| Gulf heat tolerance | 5/5 - desert-adapted, excellent in Gulf heat. |
| Temperament | Very fast and agile, nervous; small tiercels need careful weight management. |
| Disease prevention | Prevention: bumblefoot (perch surfaces), frounce & herpesvirus (no wild pigeons), sour crop (don't overfeed), coccidiosis/worms (routine faecal checks), avian pox (mosquito control/vaccine). Small species chill and lose condition fast - weigh daily. Vet for treatment. |
| Identification features | Like a small pale peregrine: paler blue-grey back, rufous nape and often rufous forehead (hard to see), narrower moustache, buff-washed finely barred underparts; juvenile brown with lighter streaking than young peregrine. |
Origin: North Africa, Arabia and Central Asia — Scientific name: Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides
Size: Male 330-400 g, female 610-750 g
Breeding and care tips
Now treated as a peregrine subspecies (pelegrinoides), formerly a separate species. Small, fast and very heat-tolerant; widely used in gyr hybrids to get a smaller, heat-hardier bird.
Description
Smaller than the peregrine with a paler back, a rufous nape and a lightly marked breast.
Need the exact date? Use the egg hatch calculator and the weaning age chart.
Related species
- Gyrfalcon
- Saker falcon
- Peregrine falcon
- Lanner falcon
- Laggar lugger falcon
- Prairie falcon
- Aplomado falcon
- Merlin
Frequently asked questions
How long do Barbary falcon eggs take to hatch?
Barbary falcon eggs hatch after 29-32 days of incubation.
How many eggs does a Barbary falcon lay?
Usually 3-4 eggs per clutch.
When do Barbary falcon chicks leave the nest?
Chicks fledge at about 35-40 days old.
When are Barbary falcon chicks weaned?
They are weaned and independent at about 70-90 days.
What is the Barbary falcon breeding season?
Wild: lays Feb-April (earlier than peregrine). Captive: Feb-March; AI common for hybrids (gyr x barbary).
How do you tell a male Barbary falcon from a female?
Reverse size dimorphism: female ~1/3 heavier (falconers: falcon vs tiercel; Gulf: "tabaa" for the male peregrine, "qarmousha" or "wakri" for the male saker). Chicks and hybrids: DNA (feather/blood) is reliable; size alone overlaps between species and hybrids.
How long does a Barbary falcon live?
About 12-18 years with good care.