THE RED-HEADED FALCON FALCO CHICQUERA DAUDIN, 1800 (AVES: FALCONIFORMES: FALCONIDAE) BREEDING ON PALMYRA PALM AT BAHOUR LAKE, PUDUCHERRY (PONDICHERRY), INDIA.

Breeding of the Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera is being reported from Bahour Lake in Union Territory of Puducherry along with the breeding period observations. The falcon nesting on the Palmyra palm Borassus flabellifer is reported for the first time from the country. The courtship was observed in mid-January and chicks fledged in mid-April. Incubation lasted 37 days, chicks fledged in 34-37 days, become nest independent in 40-43 days and become independent from parental care in 69-72 days. Feeding frequency for 27-30 days old chicks were five prey deliveries during a two hours' observation in the morning. Fledglings were adult size, but with brownish crown and moustachial stripe, pale collar, maroon shoulders, darker wings and buff tinge on the underside; and were observed to retain the foraging territory in nesting area even after one month of removal from parental care. Availability of quality crow nest in areas of good prey density could be a decisive factor in selecting breeding location; many crow nests on Palmyra palms were noticed in Puducherry region. The palm nesting falcon could face additional threats from toddy and fruit extractors since the breeding season coincides with the flowering and fruiting season of Palmyra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]