Peregrine Falcon
Geographic Range:
Summer Range-Breeds locally from Alaska to Greenland and southward to Mexico, Missouri, and northern Georgia. Also throughout the rest of the world.
Winter Range-Winters from coastal Alaska and southern Canada southward to South America.
Status: Virtually exterminated from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century, restoration efforts have made it a regular, if still uncommon sight in many large cities.
Description:
- Large falcon, medium-sized hawk
- Black mustache mark on face
- Long pointed wings
- Back and wings bluish gray
- Head blackish
- Cheek area behind face stripe white.
- Underparts whitish with variable amount of black spotting and barring.
- Tail and under wings barred gray and black.
- Cere yellow.
- Feet large and yellow.
- Folded wings just reach tip of tail.
Size: 36-49 cm (14-19 in Wingspan: 39-43 in
Weight: 18.71-56.48 ounces
Habitat: Found in a variety of habitats, most with cliffs for nesting and open areas for foraging. Uses large cities and nests on buildings.
Typical Diet: Mostly birds, from songbirds up to small geese. Bats and other small mammals.
Similar Species: Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel, Merlin
Voice: Alarm call a loud series of harsh "kak, kak, kak."
Other Facts:
- Nest is shallow, placed on ledge of cliff or building, or in old raven nest
- Reddish brown eggs with darker brown blotches
- 2-5 eggs
- The name "peregrine" means wanderer
- Has one of the longest migrations of any North American bird. Tundra-nesting falcons winter in South America, and may move 25,000 km (15,500 mi) in a year.
- People have trained falcons for hunting for over a thousand years, and the Peregrine Falcon was always one of the most prized birds.
- The Peregrine Falcon is a very fast flier, averaging 25-34 mph in traveling flight, and reaching speeds up to 69 mph in direct pursuit of prey. During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 1 km, the peregrine may reach speeds of 200 mph as it drops toward its prey.
- The Peregrine Falcon is one of the most widespread birds in the world. It is found on all continents except Antarctica, and on many oceanic islands
