PEREGRINE FALCON

The peregrine falcon, also known as the peregrine. Adults have blue-gray wings, dark brown backs, a buff painted underside with brown spots, moreover white faces with a black tear stripe on their cheeks. They have hooked noses and sharp talons. It is a stable flyer and can catch its prey with deadly accuracy, diving through the air with incredible speed.

DISTRIBUTION

Discovered in South and North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

Conservation

The peregrine, same most of the larger falcons, should become endangered. Volunteers sometimes guard individual birds nesting in vulnerable areas.

Habitat

The peregrine falcon generally inhabits open country such as prairie and semi-desert, where prey is easy to spot. While the United States, the falcon is most prevalent in high zones where there are hard crags on which to breed. Cliffs and quarries also provide suitable nesting positions. In wintertime, peregrine falcons may contain even many creeks and rivers. That can also be detected far out at sea, on its road to or of its feeding areas. The particular scientific name of the peregrine falcon, peregrines, is Latin for "foreign" or "wanderer."

Breeding

Peregrine falcons mate to life and habitually breed on high, far mountains and rocky crags. Paired birds often return
to the same eerie (nest) each year. The Falcons do not build nests, but instead, use existing vegetation in which to lay the eggs. Peregrine falcons are highly territorial during the breeding period and will passionately defend their nests. Egg-laying begins in the spring, and three to four eggs are the usual number in a clutch. Incubation starts after the last egg is laid, and it is the female who spends the most time raising the chicks.

Food et Hunting

The peregrine falcon's principal prey consists from other birds, varying in size from the small skylark to higher birds like the pigeon moreover grouse. However, the peregrine falcon has known to feast on rabbits or even bats. In wintertime, when the Falcons hunt along waterways, they feed on gulls, waders, plus ducks. The peregrine falcon most frequently swoops down and grabs its prey while in flight. It seldom jumps birds on the spot or in low-lying vegetation. On the average, a peregrine falcon wants 3 '/2 ounces of food per day. When there are young to feed, it needs extra. During the breeding season, it may need to move widely to get enough food. Its territory can range of 25-125 square miles. The fastest kept falcon was at 390 km/h.

DID YOU KNOW?

- Peregrine falcons have eyes that are bigger than human eyes; they can detect their prey from a height of 304,8metres.
-In the United States, the peregrine falcon has usually named the "duck hawk" because this feeds on ducks.
- Habit: Solitary. Fast flying hunter of other birds.
-Diet: Mainly other birds.
-lifespan: Estimated at 20 years in the wild.