Peregrine Falcon
A powerful, crow-sized falcon famed for hunting other birds in mid-air. Found on nearly every continent, it favours cliffs, river valleys and, increasingly, tall city buildings as nesting sites. Body length runs 34–58cm with a 74–120cm wingspan; females are noticeably larger than males. Its hunting stoop can exceed 300km/h, making it the fastest animal on Earth. Urban populations feed heavily on feral pigeons. Pairs mate for life and return to the same nest site each year. Nearly wiped out by DDT in the mid-20th century, the species has recovered fully since the pesticide ban and is now rated Least Concern.
Peregrine Falcon
36-47 cm; span to 95 cm. Female larger. Famous falcon: crown and cheeks black; upperparts slate-blue; underparts white or buff; breast and underwings finely barred black, leaving prominent white or buff 'bib'. Cere, eye-ring and legs yellow. Juvenile: browner; feather margins buff; buff below, streaked blackish brown; cere, eye-ring and legs yellowish. Singles, pairs, family parties: perches high, on dead limbs, cliffs, broadcasting pylons. Soars high, wings flat and elliptically tapered; tail fanned; 'bib' prominent; looks wide-hipped, tail broad and ample. Wingbeats quick and shallow, broken by glides; 'stoops' spectacularly on birds such as pigeons, galahs, or teals, streaking across sky on nearly closed wings. Chases with hard, lashing strokes of backswept wings.
- Other name
- Black-cheeked Falcon; Duck Hawk.
- Similar Species
- Australian Hobby; Brown Falcon; Grey Falcon.
- Voice
- hoarse, staccato, complaining 'chak-chak-chak-chak', male's noticeably higher-pitched; near nest, high, thin 'keer-keer-keer'.
- Habitat
- cliffs, gorges, timbered watercourses, environs of rivers, wetlands, plains, open woodlands, pylons, spires, buildings.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Nov.
- Nest
- on cliff ledge or crevice; large tree hollow or nest of other raptor or corvid; ledge of city building.
- Eggs
- 2-3; pale buff, finely marked reddish chestnut.
- Range & Status
- Aust. and Tas.: uncommon. Sedentary; dispersive when young. Cosmopolitan, except NZ.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Falco peregrinus macropus
