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Peregrine FalconAlternate name(s): "Black-cheeked Falcon", "Peregrine"; misnomer: "Duck Hawk" ![]() Size: 35-50 cm; wing span 85-100 cm Weight: 425-750 g (male), 910-1500 g (female) |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "macropus"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Peregrine Falcon; note the orange
eye-ring, cere, bill and legs/feet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Near-frontal view of a male Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Near-frontal view of a male Peregrine Falcon with its prey
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Near-lateral view of a male Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Dorsal view of a male Peregrine Falcon; this bird was
observed feeding a begging female at the start of the
breeding season, see below
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Frontal view of a female Peregrine Falcon looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Near-frontal view of a female Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Near-lateral view of a female Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Near-lateral view of a female Peregrine Falcon; this bird
was observed begging for, and receiving, food from its
partner in a bonding ritual(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Lateral view of a female Peregrine Falcon
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Frontal view of a female Peregrine Falcon in low flight
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
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PAIR |
The photo shown here, of a pair, was used to determine the sexes of the two individuals (photos shown above from Alice Springs taken in June 2023). Note that the male, on the right, has brighter orange eye-rings, cere, bill and legs/feet than the female, indicating that this pair is breeding.
Frontal view of a pair of Peregrine Falcons, male on the right
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, June 2023]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Peregrine Falcon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]
Frontal view of a Peregrine Falcon looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]
Lateral view of a Peregrine Falcon sitting on a rockface
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Swan Reach Cliffs, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2015]
Near-dorsal view of a Peregrine Falcon using a lamppost as its
perch (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Dianella, Perth, WA, July 2016]
Frontal view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight; this is
the bird whose
calls were
recorded on 31 May 2020
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Point Addis, VIC, April 2022]
Lateral/ventral view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight; this is
the bird whose
calls were
recorded on 31 May 2020
[Pilliga NP,
NSW, May 2020]
Lateral/ventral view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Royal NP, NSW,
June 2013]
Collage of photos showing a Peregrine Falcon circling above
a 1400-m high mountain
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, February 2021]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon; note the heavy
streaking and the chevrons down the front
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Gooradalng Campground, Keep River NP, NT, September 2020]
Two Peregrine Falcons in a dead tree top - the adult, most likely a
female, sits at the very top, a juvenile bird to its lower right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2009]
Portrait of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon taken in captivity
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
Lateral portrait of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon taken in captivity
(photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Aug - Nov | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 31 - 35 days | Fledging age: ca. 40 days |
Nest building: N/A | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
Peregrine Falcons do not build a nest. They either use a scrape or just a bare rock surface or they re-use another species' stick nest.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Scrape in rock crevice/ledge | Material: Rock | Height above ground: 15 - ? m |
Overview of the location of a Peregrine Falcon nest on a rock ledge
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a female Peregrine Falcon on its nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Dorsal view of a female Peregrine Falcon on its nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Female Peregrine Falcon temporarily off its nest, revealing the
presence of 3 eggs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Female Peregrine Falcon turning its eggs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Female Peregrine Falcon temporarily off its nest, feeding on
prey brought by the male
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Hypipamee, QLD, August 2023]
Peregrine Falcon sitting in front of its nest in a rock crevice
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, 1980ies]
Location of the Peregrine Falcon nest the entrance to which is
shown above (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, 1980ies]
Peregrine Falcon nest (not in use at the time the photo was taken)
on a rock ledge; note the white streaks of poo down the rockface
[Apsley Gorge,
Oxley Wild Rivers NP,
near Walcha, NSW, October 2018]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 53 x 40 mm | Colour: Creamy, with olive-brown speckles | Shape: Ellipsoidal |
Peregrine Falcon nest with 2 eggs in it
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Pilliga scrub,
NSW, 1980ies]
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Behaviour |
Lateral view of a female Peregrine Falcon; this bird was
observed begging for, and receiving, food from its partner
in a bonding ritual(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
trying to intimidate a Peregrine Falcon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2021]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Birds | Dependents: As adults | Water intake: None |
All raptors are carnivores. Peregrine Falcons prey on smaller birds, up to the size of pigeons or ducks, which they take in flight.
During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.
Near-frontal view of a male Peregrine Falcon with its prey
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Tambo River, Swan Reach, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Peregrine Falcon plucking a
Galah
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2021]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
perfalc_me_20230815.mp3 |
macropus (N QLD) |
Hunting call (female with prey) | © ME | |
perfalc_20200531_3.m4a |
macropus (NW NSW) |
? | © MD | |
perfalc_20211021_2.m4a |
macropus (NW NSW) |
? (+alarm calls of Australian Raven and Pied Butcherbird) | © MD | |
perfalc_20200531_2.m4a |
macropus (NW NSW) |
? (+alarm calls of White-plumed Honeyeater) | © MD | |
perfalc_20200531.m4a |
macropus (NW NSW) |
? (+alarm calls of Straw-necked Ibis, Magpie-lark & White-plumed Honeyeater) | © MD |
More Peregrine Falcon sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.