Field Guide/Birds/Falco peregrinus

2005-06-03T02:22:14Z

24.36.23.114:

{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Peregrine Falcon}}<br/>{{StatusLeastConcern}}
{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Peregrine-Falcon.jpg|200px|Peregrine Falcon]] | caption = }}
{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Bird|Aves]]}}
{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Falconiformes]]}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = [[Falconidae]]}}
{{Taxobox_genus_entry | taxon = '''''[[Falcon|Falco]]'''''}}
{{Taxobox_species_entry | taxon = '''''peregrinus'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_binomial | color = pink | binomial_name = Falco peregrinus | author = [[Marmaduke Tunstall|Tunstall]] | date = [[1771]]}}
{{Taxobox_end}}

The '''Peregrine Falcon''' ('''''Falco peregrinus''''') is a medium-sized [[falcon]] about the size of a large [[crow]]: 38-53 [[cm]] (15 to 21 [[inch]]es) long. It has a wingspan of about 1 [[metre]] (40 inches). Males weigh 570-710 [[gram]]s; the noticeably larger females weigh 910-1190 grams.

==Introduction==
Adult Peregrine Falcons have [[slate]] [[blue]]-[[grey]] wings and backs barred with [[black]]. Their undersides are [[white]] with light [[brown]] stripes. They have white faces with a black stripe on each cheek, and the head is blue-black. The subspecies vary in plumage; for instance immature males of the American [[tundra]] have pale crowns, while birds of the northwestern coast of [[North America]] are darker than others. The younger birds are darker below, browner, and streaked rather than barred. All Peregrines have large dark eyes.

The call of this bird is a harsh repeated "cack".

Peregrines eat mostly other birds such as [[dove|pigeon]]s, [[shorebird]]s, [[starling]]s, [[songbird]]s, [[parrot]]s, and [[duck]]s. They attack their prey by flying high and diving ("stooping") at the victims.

The Peregine is often said to be the fastest animal on earth. Although its [[level]] [[flight]] is no faster than that of many other birds, its [[terminal velocity|diving speed]] is significantly greater; estimates range from 188 [[km/h]]<sup>[http://www.birding.com/BirdRecords1.htm]</sup> (117 [[Mi/h]]) to over 320 km/h (200 Mi/h).

These birds are greatly prized in [[falconry]], where the hen is known as a ''falcon'' and the cock as a ''tiercel''.

The bird's [[Latin]] name, ''peregrinus'', means "foreigner" or "traveler". This is because [[bird migration|wintering]] birds often wander far from their frequently bleak breeding areas.

== Range, habitat, and nesting ==
Peregrine Falcons live mostly along [[mountain range]]s, [[river]] [[valley]]s, and [[coastline]]s and, increasingly, in cities. They are widespread and common in [[Europe]], [[Asia]], [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], [[Australasia]] and [[Africa]].

In [[North America]], Peregrine Falcons still breed in the [[Rocky Mountains]], the [[Pacific Northwest]], and the [[Arctic]] [[tundra]], as well as the [[Midwest]] states. They used to be commonly found in parts of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] and nearby valleys from New England south to Georgia, the upper [[Mississippi River]] valley, and along the Pacific coast as far south as [[Mexico]].

Courtship displays include spectacular [[aerobatic]] flight and dives by the male and aerial pursuits. A pair may mate for life. These birds aggressively defend the nesting area.

The nest is a scrape or depression dug in gravel on a cliff ledge. Sometimes if no cliff is available, Peregrines will nest in a tree cavity, an old stick nest, or even a tussock of grass on the tundra. These birds also nest on tall buildings in cities, which resemble their natural nesting sites. The female usually lays 3 to 5 [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s; the color ranges from [[red]]dish white to mottled brown.

If a Peregrine Falcon lives through its first year, it can live up to 10 years. Most young birds do not survive their first year.

Peregrines on the northwest coast of [[North America]] and other mild-winter regions are usually permanent residents. Other populations migrate; for instance, birds from [[Alaska]], northern [[Canada]] and [[Greenland]] migrate to [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. Migrating birds may travel far out over open ocean.

Similarly, many birds from northern Eurasia move further south in winter, but in areas with less cold winters birds, especially adult males, will remain on the breeding territory.

==Threats==
The Peregrine Falcon became [[endangered species|endangered]] because of the over-use of [[pesticide]]s, in particular [[DDT]], during the [[1950s]] and [[1960s]]. Pesticide build-up interfered with reproduction, thinning eggshells and severely restricting the ability of birds to reproduce. In several parts of the world, including eastern North America, the Peregrine Falcon was wiped out by pesticides. In [[1970]], Peregrine Falcons were put on the US endangered species list.

Peregrine eggs and chicks are often targeted by thieves and collectors, so the location of their nest should not be revealed, unless they are protected.

==Recovery efforts ==
[[Image:Stamp-ctc-1990s-recovering-species.png|thumb|Successful efforts at saving endangered species like the Peregrine were recognized by a U.S. postal stamp.]]
Wildlife services around the world organized Peregrine Falcon recovery teams to breed Peregrines in captivity, among other places, at [[Cornell University]] and the renowned [[World Center for Birds of Prey]] located in [[Boise]], Idaho.

The birds were fed through a chute so they could not see the human trainers. Then, when they were old enough, the box was opened. This allowed the bird to test its wings. As the bird got stronger the food was reduced because the bird could hunt its own food. This procedure is called hacking. To release a captive-bred falcon, the bird was placed in a special box at the top of a tower or cliff ledge

Worldwide recovery efforts have been remarkably successful. In the United States, the banning of DDT, over time, made it possible for released birds to breed successfully. There are now dozens of breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the northeastern USA. Many have settled in large cities, including [[New York City|New York]], where they nest on [[skyscraper]] window ledges and the towers of [[suspension bridge]]s. These structures typically closely resemble the natural elevated cliff ledges which the species prefers for nesting locations. During daytime the falcons have been observed swooping down to catch common city birds such as [[pigeon]]s and [[starling]]s. In many cities, it has been credited with controlling the numbers of such common birds, which have often become pests, without resort to more controversial methods such as poisoning or hunting. The story in many other parts of the world has been similar.

In [[Virginia]], state officials working with students from the [[College of William and Mary]] in [[Williamsburg, Virginia|Williamsburg]] have successfully established nesting boxes high atop the [[George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge]] on the [[York River]] and the [[Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge]] and [[Varina-Enon Bridge]] on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]] and at other similar locations. 13 new chicks were hatched in this Virginia program during a recent year. The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the [[United States|U.S.]] Threatened and [[Endangered Species]] list on [[August 25]], [[1999]].

In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], there has been a good recovery of populations since the crash of the [[1960]]s. This has been greatly assisted by conservation and protection work led by the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB]]. Peregrines now breed in many mountainous and coastal area especially in the west and north. They are also using some city buildings for nesting, capitalising on the urban pigeon populations for food.

==See also==
[[Barbary Falcon]], ''Falco (peregrinus) pelegrinoides'', which is often considered to be a subspecies of Peregrine.

== External links ==
* http://endangered.fws.gov/facts2.html US FWS site
* http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/ Canadian site
* http://peregrinefund.org/
* http://www.scpbrg.org/ Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group
* http://www.pge.com/peregrinenestcam/ Peregrine Falcon webcam on 33rd floor of Pacific Gas and Electric Company building in San Francisco, a SCPBRG site
* http://www.indystar.com/special/falcon/ The Falcon Cam shows a nesting pair in downtown Indianapolis
* http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/falcon/ DEP Falcon Cam shows a nesting pair in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
* http://www.hamiltonnature.org/hamfalcam.html Falcon Cam shows chicks in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Website also features galleries from previous years.
* [http://www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/news/is-newsctr-perigrine.asp VDOT website for Peregrine Falcon news]
* [http://fsweb.wm.edu/ccb/vafalcons/falconhome.cfm VAFALCONS website] site focused on the peregrine falcon population that breeds in Virginia which is currently tracking 7 checks on the Internet

[[Category:Birds of prey]]

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Field Guide/Birds/Falco peregrinus