Bird · GBIF taxon 2481047
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusAlso known as Duck Hawk, Peregrine, Black-cheeked Falcon
Peregrine falcons perform high-speed hunting stoops exceeding 200 miles per hour, knocking prey out of midair with closed talons. They nest on steep cliffs and urban skyscrapers, preying almost exclusively on other birds like pigeons and waterfowl. Mated pairs form lifelong bonds, returning to the same cliff or ledge year after year to raise their young.
Fastest AnimalRaptorCosmopolitan
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Rock Dove
- Mallard
- Shorebirds
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Golden Eagle
- Gyrfalcon
ThreatsPesticide accumulation, collisions with buildings and power lines, nest site disturbance
HabitatsCliffs, coastal bluffs, urban environments, river valleys, and open terrain
Life span10 to 15 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyFalconidae
- SpeciesFalco peregrinus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp talons and beak can cause injury if handled; observe from a safe distance.
- What to notice
- Look for the dark hood or mustache mark, long pointed wings, and rapid wingbeats in flight.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a generous distance from nest cliffs and never fly drones anywhere near nesting raptors.
Responsible observation
- Use Spotting Scopes: Observe active nest ledges from a safe distance to avoid disturbing breeding pairs.
- Watch High Ledges: Look for perched falcons near the tops of skyscrapers, bridge towers, or steep cliffs.
- Listen for Calls: Adults utter loud, harsh scolding calls when defending their territory from intruders.
Prey (c) Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonathan Eisen · cc-by
Close Relative Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) psweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by psweet · cc-by-sa
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