From Opus

Includes Cape Verde Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Photo by RMD.
Photo taken: Nhulunbuy NT, Australia.

Photo by Nomdeploom.
Location: Santa Fe Nat'l Forest, New Mexico, USA.

Identification

L. 15–21 in

Distribution

Almost worldwide. In North America breeds in Alaska, northern and western Canada and western coastal Greenland.

Taxonomy

17 races are recognised: In North America F. p. anatum breeds across much of the continent, pealei on the Pacific coast and tundrius in the far north. Race cassini breeds in southern South America. The nominate race peregrinus breeds over Europe and western Asia, calidus in Siberia and japonensis in eastern Asia. F. p. brookei breeds around the Mediterranean and peregrinator from India to southern China. The tropical African race is minor, madens breeds on the Cape Verde Islands and radama in Madagascar and the Comoros. F. p. ernesti breeds in the Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea, nesiotis in Vanuatu, the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia, furuitii on Volcano Island, macropus in Australia and submelanogenys in south-west Australia.

Habitat

Cliff-faces for breeding, hunts over cultivated land and grassland, marshes and wetlands, beaches and the sea.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes birds, such as doves, waterfowl and songbirds, occasionally hunt small mammals, including bats, rats, voles and rabbits. Insects and reptiles make up a relatively small proportion of their diet. Peregrine Falcons also eat their own chicks when starving.

Breeding

A scrape in the ground is made and 3-4 eggs are laid. The females incubate the eggs for 29-32 days. Chicks fledge 35-42 days after hatching.

Voice

External Links