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6

Peregrine Falcon

(Falco peregrinus)
Alternate name(s): "Black-cheeked Falcon", "Peregrine"; misnomer: "Duck Hawk"
German name(s): "Wanderfalke"

Size: 35-50 cm; wing span 85-100 cm
Weight: 425-750 g (male), 910-1500 g (female)
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Peregrine Falcon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "peregrinus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Peregrine Falcon looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cape Carvoeiro, Peniche, Portugal, January 2023]

Near-frontal view of a Peregrine Falcon on a coastal rock (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pointe du Raz, Bretagne, France, August 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Peregrine Falcon perched on a power pole (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Peregrine Falcon in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabo de Sao Vicente, Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flight looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Lateral view of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]



Sequence of photos showing a juvenile Peregrine Falcon, seen in difficult light conditions, carrying away its prey
(photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2018]

Race "macropus"

We have taken photos of Peregrine Falcons, race "macropus", in Australia.

Food, Diet

All raptors are carnivores. Peregrine Falcons prey on smaller birds, up to the size of pigeons or ducks, which they take in flight.

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 .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.