Description
Life span: Up to 15 years
Adult Peregrine falcons have slate-gray to bluish-black backs, long, pointed wings with faint darker striping, and black wingtips. Thin, clear bands of dark brown or black that range in color from white to rusty are used to mark the underparts. The tail is long, slim, and rounded at the end. It has thin, clean bars that are similar in color to the back and has a black tip and a white band at the very end. The white throat and pale sides of the neck contrast sharply with the black top of the head and a “mustache” around the cheeks. The beak and claws are black, but the cere, feet, and legs are all yellow.
Native Region/Habitat
There are Peregrine Falcons all around the world. In North America, they breed in open areas with cliffs (or skyscrapers) for nesting. They can be seen breeding up to 12,000 feet in height, near rivers and coasts, in towns where local Rock Pigeon populations provide a reliable food supply, and at other locations. During migration and the winter, peregrine falcons can be found in almost any open habitat, but they are more frequently seen around barrier islands, mudflats, coasts, lake borders, and mountain chains.
Behavior
The peregrine falcon is commonly cited as the world’s fastest bird due to its incredibly quick flight speed. Their typical cruising flying speed varies from 24 to 33 mph when they are pursuing prey. When crouching or dropping on prey with their wings closed, peregrine falcons are capable of reaching speeds of 238 miles per hour. Peregrines start their search by keeping an eye out from a high perch, flapping slowly, or soaring very high.
The victim is first approached from 300 to 3,000 feet above by stoops, who then either grab it or strike it with their feet to kill or severely injure it. The bird is then captured and killed by being bit through the neck. In addition to level pursuit and plucking birds out of big groups, peregrine falcons sometimes occasionally hunt on the ground. The Peregrine Falcon has its own predators, including Gyrfalcons, eagles, Great Horned owls, and other Peregrines, while being an elite predator.
As a pet/In captivity
Because they need a lot of area to fly and exercise, these birds are not appropriate as house pets. Despite this, they are exceptionally well-liked birds for falconry. They can successfully hunt wild wildlife with handlers and reproduce in human care.
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