Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon tail feathers. Image from Feather Atlas (USFWS).
IDENTIFICATION
Length: They are 14.2 to 19.3 inches tall with a 2.4 to 3.9 foot wingspan.
Weight: They weigh between 18.7 and 56.4 oz.
Color: Adults have a dark slate-blue back and wings, with a dark blue tail that is lightly barred. The top of the head has a dark stripe running down the side of the face. The cere, legs, and feet are bright yellow. The underside of the adult is light with vertical streaks across the breast, belly, and legs.
Sounds: They make a ‘cak-cak’ sound.
LIFE CYCLE
Reproduction: They return to the northern breeding grounds in late April to early May. Young are raised in aeries (indentations scraped into the soil of rocky cliff ledges) or on flat surfaces of buildings or bridges. A typical peregrine clutch is 2 to 4 eggs. Hatchlings usually fledge at 42 days.
Adaptations: Many peregrine falcons migrate thousands of miles to spend the winter in Mexico and Central and South America, but some overwinter in the U.S. In the past, peregrine falcons in Minnesota nested on cliff ledges along rivers or lakes. Presently, they nest primarily on buildings and bridges in urban settings and use historic eyries on cliffs along Lake Superior and the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota.
HABITAT
Range: Distributed worldwide, peregrine falcons are found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found breeding in the arctic tundra, through Europe, and North America, and south into Africa, South America, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.
Diet: The most spectacular of hunters, peregrine falcons feed almost exclusively on birds they take in the air. High-speed dives enable peregrines to catch everything from songbirds to herons to ducks.
Status: Least Concern (population stable). Peregrine falcons went on the endangered species list after the population was depleted due to the spraying of chemicals (DDT). They taken off the endangered species list in August 1999.
Peregrine falcons are the fastest bird the the world, reaching top speeds of over 200 miles (320 km) per hour.
They were named for their extensive migrations of up to 15,500 miles/year; the word "peregrine" means wanderer.
Global range of Peregrine Falcons. Image from MPF (via WhiteTailFalcons.com).