![]() ![]() ![]() The peregrine falcon has a body length of 34 to 58 cm (13–23 in) and a wingspan from 74 to 120 cm (29–47 in). Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia It has also been used as a religious, royal, or national symbol across multiple eras and areas of human civilization.ĭescription Falco peregrinus. It is effective on most game bird species, from small to large. The peregrine falcon is a well-respected falconry bird due to its strong hunting ability, high trainability, versatility, and availability via captive breeding. Since the ban on DDT from the early 1970s, populations have recovered, supported by large-scale protection of nesting places and releases to the wild. The peregrine falcon became an endangered species in many areas because of the widespread use of certain pesticides, especially DDT. Reaching sexual maturity at one year, it mates for life and nests in a scrape, normally on cliff edges or, in recent times, on tall human-made structures. Īlthough its diet consists almost exclusively of medium-sized birds, the peregrine will sometimes hunt small mammals, small reptiles, or even insects. ![]() They are only about 0.6–0.8% genetically differentiated. The two species' divergence is relatively recent, during the time of the last ice age, therefore the genetic differential between them (and also the difference in their appearance) is relatively tiny. Experts recognize 17 to 19 subspecies, which vary in appearance and range disagreement exists over whether the distinctive Barbary falcon is represented by two subspecies of Falco peregrinus or is a separate species, F. Both the English and scientific names of this species mean "wandering falcon", referring to the migratory habits of many northern populations. The peregrine is a highly successful example of urban wildlife in much of its range, taking advantage of tall buildings as nest sites and an abundance of prey such as pigeons and ducks. In fact, the only land-based bird species found over a larger geographic area is not always naturally occurring, but one widely introduced by humans, the rock pigeon, which in turn now supports many peregrine populations as a prey species. This makes it the world's most widespread raptor and one of the most widely found bird species. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests the only major ice-free landmass from which it is entirely absent is New Zealand. The peregrine's breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. As is typical for bird-eating (avivore) raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males. According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph). It can reach over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high-speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. They are really cool birds.The peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus), also known simply as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a cosmopolitan bird of prey ( raptor) in the family Falconidae. And, compare the head of the bird in your photo with the other ones. Compare the tail of your bird and the other ones. You can also check Facebook for some local birding groups.Īs far as this specific photo goes, look at the photos on the two Cornell websites. I would bet they are nesting on the tall buildings in the downtown area. Most birders are happy to share information like where to find these falcons. ![]() Or, look online for a local chapter of the Audubon Society to find out how to contact some birders. If you really want to see a Peregrine Falcon, post something here: But, they have adapted very well to suburban life where people put out feeders that attract smaller birds.which, in turn, feeds predators like these hawks. They used to be hawks that lived in the woods. I think this is no doubt a Cooper's Hawk. Read the behavior section, as well.Īnother thing I want to caution you about with bird ID is that, it is sometimes easy to want to see a more exotic or rarer species. Note: It is not just the look of a bird that matters. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has good web pages for this for each species. One good way to figure out what a bird is is by going step by step with its characteristics. ![]()
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