History of Falcon in Timeline
Falcons, belonging to the genus *Falco*, are a diverse group of predatory birds encompassing around 40 species. Their distribution spans across all continents globally, with the exception of Antarctica, although similar raptors existed there during the Eocene epoch.
1996: Publication of White et al.'s Taxonomic Order
In 1996, White et al. published a significant taxonomic order that influenced the understanding of falcon lineages. This sequence, with minor adjustments for kestrels, became a standard reference in the field.
2015: Renaming of "Sushkinia" pliocaena
The bird genus initially named "Sushkinia" pliocaena, discovered in Kazakhstan and dating back to the Early Pliocene, was renamed Psushkinia in 2015. This change occurred because the name "Sushkinia" was already assigned to a prehistoric dragonfly relative, making the initial bird genus name invalid.
2021: Discovery of the oldest falconid fossil
In 2021, the oldest falconid fossil, estimated to be around 55 million years old, was discovered. This finding challenges previous understandings of the falcon fossil record, which only dated back 10 million years.