bird, the Turul, was probably a saker falcon (kerecsensólyom), and the saker falcon is the national bird of Hungary. In 2012, the saker falcon was selected as the national bird of Mongolia. Use in falconry The saker falcon has been used in falconry for thousands of years, and like its very close relative, the gyrfalcon, is a highly regarded in it. Swift and powerful, it is effective against medium and large game bird species. Saker falcons can reach speeds of 120 to 150 km/h and suddenly swoop down on their prey. In recent years it is possible that hybrids of the saker falcon and peregrine falcon have been developed in order to provide falconers a bird with greater size and horizontal speed than the peregrine, with greater propensity for diving stoops on game than the saker. References External links saker.sciencefornature.org Live 24hr view of a saker falcon nest Saker Falcon Falco cherrug Global Action Plan (SakerGAP) saker falcon Birds of Africa Birds of Central Asia Birds of Mongolia Birds of prey of Eurasia Birds of the Arabian Peninsula Birds of China Birds of Pakistan saker falcon Falconry saker falcon