Abdullah bin Faraj Al-Qahtani with the rare falcon.

A citizen has sold a rare saker falcon, also known as falco cherrug, for a whopping SR210,000 to an enthusiast. Abdullah bin Faraj Al-Qahtani, 40, said he had caught the falcon after spending a night and day at the site where it was spotted.

“This falcon has many qualities that distinguish it from others. It is 17.5 inches wide, which is a rare size. It is very hard to find a falcon this size. It has a brown upper belly and contrasting grey flight feathers. The head and under-parts are pale brown.”

He said color was one of the most important parts of the bird and often determines price. “Moreover, this falcon has wide and short legs.”

Al-Qahtani said he loves to catch falcons. He has been doing so for the past 30 years. “My father taught me how to hunt falcons. I caught my first falcon without help when I was 15 years old.” Al-Qahtani said that this is the most expensive falcon he has ever sold.

The saker falcon is mainly migratory except in the southernmost parts of its range, wintering or passing regularly through Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.

 
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