Features& Description
The Peregrine Falcon, Latin for “Falco peregrinus”, is a small, fast-flying, pointed-winged bird of prey. With a wingspan of 1 m to 1.13 m, it can reach the prodigious speed of 250 km/h in a dive.
The round head, quite large in relation to the body, appears relatively smaller in females than in males. It is black in adults, darker brown or russet in juveniles under 1 year old.
The upper plumage is slate-gray, with a lighter blue-gray back, rump and supra-caudals. The underside is white, with the lower breast and belly finely barred with black.
The cheeks are marked by a large black spot called a “moustache”.
Females are larger than males.
Habitat(Biotope)
The Peregrine Falcon is mainly found on coastal and mountain cliffs, and locally in peat bogs.
On the lake, in winter, it is often perched on a stump for observation.
Behavior& habits
The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey that uses its speed to hunt. For several minutes, it will try to position itself above its prey (often pigeons) and then dive, folding its wings over itself before finally striking its target at full speed.
The impact at nearly 200 km/h leaves no chance for the prey, which it catches with its talons either on first contact, or when it falls after the impact.
These birds are very attached to their territory and return year after year.
In mating season, the pair engage in an aerial ballet punctuated by dizzying dives, loops and chases.
Reproductionand immature
Peregrines Falcons don’t build nests. It simply lays its eggs on the ground in a cavity, a niche in a bell tower or a fairly high building.
The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which incubate for 30 days.
Juveniles take 35 days to fledge.
Cryor Voice
The Peregrine Falcon is silent most of the time except near the nest.
The most frequent call is a quiet, hoarse “rèkh-rèkh-rèkh-rèkh…”, sometimes repeated at length, used as a contact and alarm.
The pair emits “ih-tyipp” during courtship and often in flight.
Peregrine falcon
Pelerin Falcon Augustin Povedano
