Sunkar – the sanctuary is named for the word falcon in Kazakh – was set up in late Soviet times to preserve the saker falcon and currently houses around 400 birds of prey from 15 species native to ...

Mubarak Thulib al Mazrouei’s two birds are big, 18 inches (46 centimeters) high, and beautiful, all sharp talons and speckled, with hoods covering their eyes. His newest bird cost $20,000.

The saker falcon -- a protected species in many range states, including Kazakhstan -- is used for hunting in Persian Gulf states. The price for such a bird on the Central Asian black market ranges ...

Long a favorite of Middle Eastern falconers for its swift tactical flying, the saker faces a perilous future. Despite Mongolia's legal trade, high prices (up to $200,000 per bird) and greed have ...

Michael Bruford and colleagues report whole-genome sequencing of the peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and saker falcon (Falco cherrug). Their comparative analysis with five avian species provides ...