Radiographic Findings in Captive Falcons in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Radiographic records were reviewed from 1702 falcons of different species that were presented to the Falcon Specialist Hospital and Research Institute of the Fahad bin Sultan Falcon Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from September 1, 1998, to March 1, 2002. The most common radiographic findings were homogeneous and nonhomogeneous increased radiopacity and localized soft-tissue densities of the lungs and air sacs, hepatomegaly, presence of lead particles or excessive amounts of sand in the gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal tract dilatation, and bone fractures. These findings contribute to the scant information available about health and disease of falcons in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular and in the Middle East in general.