Peregrine falcon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peregrine falcon |
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| Adults in Alaska | |
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| Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771
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| Global range Breeding summer visitor Breeding resident Winter visitor Passage visitor |
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The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a very common bird of prey found all over the world. It belongs to the family of falcons, called Falconidae. People sometimes just call it the peregrine. In the past, it was known as the "Duck hawk" in North America. This amazing bird is also a special symbol for the PAF and the unofficial bird of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan.
The peregrine falcon is about the size of a crow. It has a blue-grey back, white parts underneath with dark stripes, and a black head with a "moustache" pattern. It is the fastest animal on Earth! When it dives, it can reach speeds of up to 322 km/h (200 mph). Like other birds of prey that hunt birds, the female peregrine falcon is larger than the male. There are about 17 to 19 different types, or subspecies, of peregrine falcons. Each one looks a little different and lives in slightly different places. Scientists are still discussing if the unique Barbary falcon is a type of peregrine or a separate species.
In the past, certain pesticides, especially DDT, caused big problems for these birds. These chemicals made their eggshells thinner, which meant many eggs broke easily. This led to a huge drop in the number of peregrine falcons in some areas. Luckily, many countries have now banned DDT. Because of this, and with help from protecting their nesting places and breeding them in zoos to release into the wild, their numbers are now growing again.
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About the Peregrine Falcon
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A peregrine falcon is usually about 34 to 58 cm (13–23 in) long. Its wings can spread from 74 to 120 cm (29–47 in) wide. Both male and female falcons have similar colors and feathers. However, female peregrine falcons are much bigger than males. They can be up to 30% larger!
Male falcons weigh between 330 to 1,000 g (0.73–2.20 lb). The larger females weigh from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5–3.3 lb). In most types of peregrines, males are usually less than 700 g (1.5 lb). Females often weigh more than 800 g (1.8 lb). It's common for a female to weigh about 50% more than her male partner.
The adult peregrine's back and long, pointed wings are usually bluish-black to grey. The tips of its wings are black. Its white or rusty belly has thin, dark brown or black stripes. The tail is like the back in color, with thin stripes, and has a black tip with a white band at the very end. The top of its head and the "moustache" marks on its cheeks are black. These dark parts stand out against the pale neck and white throat.
The part above its beak (called the cere) and its feet are yellow. Its beak and claws are black. The upper beak has a small notch near the tip. This special feature helps falcons kill their prey by breaking its spinal column at the neck. Young peregrine falcons are browner. Their bellies have streaks instead of stripes, and their cere and eye-rings are pale blue.
Scientists have studied the black stripe on their cheeks, called a malar stripe. This stripe helps reduce glare from the sun. This means they can see better when hunting. Pictures show that this stripe is thicker in places with more sunlight. This supports the idea that it helps them see in bright conditions.
Life and Habits
Peregrine falcons mostly live near mountain ranges, river valleys, coastlines, and more and more often, in cities. In places with mild winters, they usually stay all year. Some falcons, especially adult males, will even stay in their breeding area. Only falcons that live in very cold Arctic areas travel long distances during the winter.
The peregrine falcon is famous for its incredible speed. It reaches faster speeds than any other animal on Earth when it performs a "stoop." This is when it flies very high up and then dives steeply downwards. It can reach speeds of over 320 km/h (200 mph)! It hits one wing of its prey so it doesn't hurt itself.
Peregrine falcons can live up to 19 years and 9 months in the wild.
What Peregrine Falcons Eat
Peregrine falcons mostly eat medium-sized birds. This includes pigeons and doves, waterfowl, songbirds, and waders. In North America, they have been seen catching tiny 3 g (0.11 oz) hummingbirds. They have also caught large 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) sandhill cranes. Most of their prey weighs from 20 g (0.71 oz) (small birds) to 1,100 g (2.4 lb) (like ducks and gulls).
The peregrine falcon hunts more types of birds than any other bird of prey in North America. They have caught over 300 different bird species! This includes almost 100 types of shorebirds. They also sometimes hunt smaller hawks and owls, like the American kestrel or merlin.
In cities, peregrine falcons mostly eat rock or feral pigeons. These pigeons can make up 80% or more of their diet in some cities. They also hunt other common city birds like mourning doves, common swifts, common starlings, and crows or magpies. Peregrines rarely hunt mammals, except for bats at night. But sometimes they will catch small animals like rats, mice, or squirrels. Falcons living near the coast often eat mostly seabirds. They rarely eat insects or reptiles. What they eat depends a lot on what food is available.
Peregrine falcons usually hunt at dawn and dusk, when other birds are most active. In cities, they might also hunt at night, especially when they are migrating. Before eating their prey, they usually pluck out its feathers.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Peregrine falcons start to breed when they are two to three years old. A pair of falcons usually mates for life. They come back to the same nesting spot every year. Their courtship flight is amazing! It includes fancy air moves, spirals, and steep dives. The male falcon will even pass food he has caught to the female while they are both flying. To do this, the female sometimes flies upside-down to grab the food from the male's claws!
During the breeding season, peregrine falcons protect their territory. Nesting pairs usually stay more than 1 km (0.62 mi) apart. This distance helps make sure there is enough food for the parents and their chicks. A pair might have several places they can choose to nest in their territory.
Peregrine falcons build their nests in a shallow dip, usually on the edge of cliffs. The female chooses the spot. She scrapes a small hollow in loose soil, sand, or dead plants to lay her eggs. They don't add any other nesting materials. Cliff nests are often under an overhang, on ledges with some plants. They prefer spots that face south. In some places, like parts of Australia, they might nest in large hollows in trees. Today, many peregrines also nest on tall buildings or bridges. These human-made structures are very similar to the natural cliff ledges they like.
The falcon pair protects their nest from other falcons and other birds like ravens, herons, and gulls. If they nest on the ground, they also defend against animals like foxes, bears, and wolves. Larger birds of prey, like eagles or big owls, sometimes hunt young falcons or even adult falcons. The great horned owl and the Eurasian eagle owl are the biggest threats to peregrine nests in North America and Europe.
The time when eggs are laid changes depending on where the falcons live. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's usually from February to March. In the Southern Hemisphere, it's from July to August. Some falcons in Australia might breed as late as November. Falcons near the equator can nest any time between June and December.
If the eggs are lost early in the season, the female usually lays another set of eggs. However, this is very rare in the Arctic because the summer is too short. Usually, three to four eggs are laid, but sometimes it can be one or up to five. The eggs are white to light brown with red or brown marks. The eggs are kept warm for 29 to 33 days. The female does most of the warming, but the male helps during the day. Only the female warms them at night. On average, about 2.5 young falcons are found in nests, and about 1.5 survive to fly. This is because some eggs might not hatch, or young birds might be lost.
After hatching, the baby falcons (called "eyases") are covered in creamy-white fuzz and have very big feet. Both the male (called the "tiercel") and the female (called the "falcon") leave the nest to find food for their young. The parents might hunt as far as 19 to 24 km (12 to 15 mi) from the nest. The young falcons learn to fly (or fledge) about 42 to 46 days after hatching. They stay with their parents and depend on them for food for up to two more months.
Peregrine Falcons and People
Used in Falconry
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The peregrine falcon is a highly respected bird in falconry. Falconry is the sport of hunting with trained birds of prey. People have used peregrine falcons for over 3,000 years, starting with nomads in central Asia. Smaller male falcons and females of smaller types are excellent at catching fast, small birds like doves, quail, and smaller ducks. The females of larger types can hunt bigger, stronger birds like large ducks, pheasants, and grouse.
Trained peregrine falcons are also sometimes used at airports. They help scare away other birds to reduce the risk of birds hitting airplanes. This makes air travel safer. During World War II, they were even used to stop homing pigeons from delivering messages.
Peregrine falcons have been successfully bred in captivity. This means they can be raised by humans, both for falconry and to be released back into the wild.
Images for kids
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Illustration by John James Audubon
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Breeding ranges of the 19 subspecies
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A juvenile of the subspecies ernesti in Mount Mahawu, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
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An adult of either the subspecies pealei or tundrius by its nest in Alaska
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Illustration of the subspecies minor by Keulemans, 1874
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In its habitat in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India
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A Peregrine falcon in flight, on its way to hunt.
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See also
In Spanish: Halcón peregrino para niños
