Lanner Falcons are strong, stocky birds with long wings and a relatively short tail, very similar to the North American Peregrine Falcon.  Like the Peregrine, Lanners a dark grey to bluish on the back, with a lighter underside generally streaked with brown.  Lanner Falcons are often more reddish about the head, however, and tend to lack the dark "hood" characteristic of the Peregrine.  Instead, the Lanner Falcon sports a dashing moustache in the form of dark streaks down both cheeks.  Like most raptors, males and females look the same, with females tending to be about a third larger.

Lanners have been used in falconry for more than a thousand years.  They are especially prized for their ability to capture other birds, such as pigeons or grouse.  Lanners are fast, agile flyers, and not afraid to follow prey into underbrush.  Unlike Peregrines, who are famed for the 200 mph dives, Lanners use a horizontal hunting style, coming at their prey low, flat, and fast.  Generating speeds of up to 90 mph using wingbeats alone, Lanners will strike a bird in flight to stun it, then follow it to the ground to finish the kill.

Lanners are strongly territorial.  Juveniles will wander about until they are able to find a mate and establish a territory of their own.  Once they've done so, however, they don't migrate.  Although widespread and common in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, the wild Lanner population in Europe is small and declining.  Illegal shooting, stealing of young birds for falconry, and disturbing during the breeding season by rock climbers are among the Lanner Falcon's greatest challenges. 

These beautiful captive birds are flown regularly at the National Bird of Prey Centre in Helmsley.