African Pygmy Falcon
African Pygmy FalconAfrican Pygmy FalconAfrican Pygmy FalconAfrican Pygmy Falcon

African Pygmy Falcon

Polihierax semitorquatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Masai Mara National Reserve
48 Verified records at Masai Mara National Reserve
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The African pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus)—or simply pygmy falcon—is a diminutive raptor native to eastern and southern Africa. It is the sole species in its monotypic genus, Polihierax. The pygmy falcon is the smallest bird of prey on the African continent, and among the smallest raptors on earth; only the Asian falconets (of the genus Microhierax) are smaller, weighing roughly 30-40 grams less and measuring about 5 cm shorter from head to tail. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a African Pygmy Falcon sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Grey Kestrel
LC

Grey Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco ardosiaceus

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Kestrel
LC

Lesser Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco naumanni

5–10% · With luck
Common Kestrel
LC Endemic

Common Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco tinnunculus

5–10% · With luck
Eurasian Hobby
LC

Eurasian Hobby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco subbuteo

<5% · Rare
Lanner Falcon
LC

Lanner Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco biarmicus

<5% · Rare
Amur Falcon
LC

Amur Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco amurensis

<5% · Rare
Red-necked Falcon
NT

Red-necked Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco chicquera

<5% · Rare
Red-footed Falcon
VU

Red-footed Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco vespertinus

Insufficient data
Eleonora's Falcon
LC

Eleonora's Falcon

Bird

Falco eleonorae

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
2 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
20–30%
3 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
4 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
5 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
6 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
7 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
8 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
5–10%
9 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
10 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
11 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
12 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
13 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
14 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
15 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
16 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
17 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
18 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
19 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
20 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Pygmy Falcon in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 2% of wildlife watchers report a African Pygmy Falcon sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 48 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Pygmy Falcon in Masai Mara National Reserve?

May has the highest sighting rate for African Pygmy Falcon in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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