Peregrine Falcon Bird Facts (Falco peregrinus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Peregrine Falcon is a striking raptor with a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head with distinctive facial markings. It has a hooked beak and powerful yellow legs with sharp talons.

Females are often darker than males but otherwise very similar in plumage. However, they are noticeably larger than males, often by up to 30%.

Juveniles have brown upperparts and streaked underparts, gradually moulting into adult plumage over their first year. Young birds are also streaked rather than barred below and have blueish (not yellow) skin around their eyes and the base of their bill.

Size

Length

34cm to 58cm

Wingspan

74cm to 120cm

Weight

330g to 1.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Blue Grey

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black Grey Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Peregrine Falcon can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Peregrine Falcon is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Peregrine Falcons have a nearly worldwide distribution, absent only from Antarctica. They inhabit a wide range of environments, from Arctic tundra to tropical forests and, increasingly, urban areas.

They are right at home in many modern cities where rooftops and ledges make ideal nest sites, and feral Rock Doves provide a year-round food source.

In North America, they breed across Alaska and northern Canada, with populations in the western mountains and along both coasts. European populations are found from the UK to Russia, while they also occur across Australia and New Zealand.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Arctic, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Peregrine Falcon. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Afghanistan Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary India Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Mali Martinique Mauritania Mexico Moldova Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Rwanda Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania The Bahamas The United Kingdom Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Albania Australia Bosnia and Herzegovina China Congo Georgia Hong Kong Indonesia Israel Japan Liechtenstein Luxembourg Malaysia Malta Montenegro Myanmar Nepal New Caledonia North Korea Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Russia Serbia Sri Lanka Thailand United States of America Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize British Virgin Islands Guadeloupe Jamaica Micronesia Saint Martin Uruguay US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Burundi Christmas Island Faroe Islands Iceland Maldives Mauritius Samoa Seychelles

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Peregrine Falcon's agility is exceptional, as evidenced by its ability to perform high-speed hunting dives reaching over 320 km/h (200 mph) and execute precise mid-air catches. Their pointed wing shape and aerial manoeuvrability make them one of the most agile birds in the world.

Strength 80

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not the largest raptor, Peregrine Falcons possess remarkable strength relative to their size. They can take down prey larger than themselves and carry substantial weights in flight. Their powerful legs and sharp talons enable them to strike and grip prey effectively.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Peregrine Falcons demonstrate high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical forests and even urban environments. Their ability to nest on both natural cliff faces and man-made structures further showcases their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 85

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These falcons exhibit considerable aggressiveness, particularly in hunting and territorial behaviour. Their high-speed hunting dives and willingness to take on a variety of prey, including other birds in mid-flight, indicate a notably aggressive nature.

Endurance 88

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Peregrine Falcons display impressive endurance, capable of long-distance migrations and sustained high-speed flight. Their ability to spot prey from over 3 km away and maintain the energy for rapid dives and pursuits demonstrates significant stamina and endurance.

Diet

Peregrine Falcons primarily hunt medium-sized birds, from pigeons to ducks, catching them in mid-air with their talons. They occasionally take small mammals and bats.

They are known to feed on hundreds or even thousands of different birds, ranging in size from Hummingbirds to Snow Geese and everything in between!

These falcons employ spectacular high-speed dives to strike their prey, often plucking birds out of the sky.

Behaviour

Peregrine Falcons are renowned for their high-speed hunting dives, or stoops, reaching speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph). They are solitary birds, only coming together during breeding season.

These falcons exhibit strong site fidelity, often returning to the same nesting locations year after year.

Vocalisation

Peregrine Falcons have a range of vocalisations, including a higher-pitched ‘chi chi chi’ and a loud, rapid 'kak-kak-kak' used as an alarm call or during territorial disputes.

During courtship, they produce a softer 'eechup' sound. When agitated, they may emit a high-pitched, piercing scream.

Nesting & Breeding

Peregrine Falcons typically form monogamous pairs, engaging in elaborate aerial courtship displays during late winter or early spring. They do not build nests but rather scrape a depression on cliff ledges or use existing structures.

Females lay 3-4 eggs, which are reddish-brown in colour. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 29-32 days. The eggs are oval and measure about 5 cm in length.

Chicks fledge at 35-42 days old but remain dependent on their parents for several more weeks as they perfect their flying and hunting skills.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

Peregrine Falcons have made a remarkable recovery since the ban of DDT in many countries. However, they still face threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and collisions with man-made structures.

Ongoing conservation efforts focus on nest site protection and urban habitat management.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

100,000 - 500,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Peregrines near cliff faces or tall buildings in urban areas
Observe their distinctive, pointed wing shape during flight
Listen for their loud, repetitive 'kak-kak-kak' calls
In coastal areas, watch for their high-speed dives towards water birds
Use a spotting scope to view distant perched birds on high ledges

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Duck Hawk

Family:

Falconidae

Average Lifespan

5 to 6 years

Max Lifespan

25 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult Peregrine Falcons have few natural predators, but eggs and chicks may fall victim to large owls, eagles, and climbing mammals like raccoons.

Did You Know?

Peregrine Falcons can spot prey from over 3 km away.
They have been recorded diving at speeds of up to 389 km/h (242 mph), making them the fastest animals in the world (National Geographic TV program).
Peregrine Falcons have been used in falconry for over 3,000 years.
Seabirds are an important component of the Peregrine Falcon diet, particularly for coastal populations.