Review and summary of red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) observations during migration periods in Slovakia

Abstract

Abstract The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus) migrates throughout the territory of Slovakia regularly, though it rarely breeds here. In the present paper we have reviewed and summarised its observations between the years 1905–2016, focusing on the spring and autumn migration periods and its occurrence outside the breeding season. In total, we have gathered the data on 799 observations of 3,717 individuals. Considering the unsystematic data collection, the data should be taken with caution and may rather serve for information purposes only. However, they provide useful basic items of information regarding the species’ seasonal dynamics in Slovakia and its phenology, and document the evident increase in the number of individuals observed since 2014.