Field Guide/Birds/Falco peregrinus

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The Peregrine Falcon or, formerly known as, in North America, Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus) is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 38-53 cm (15 to 21 inches) long. The English and scientific species names mean "wandering falcon", and refer to the fact that some populations are migratory. It has a wingspan of about 1 metre (40 inches). Males weigh 570-710 grams; the noticeably larger females weigh 910-1190 grams.

Range, habitat and subspecies

Peregrine Falcons live mostly along mountain ranges, river valleys, and coastlines and increasingly, in cities. They are widespread throughout the entire world and are found on all continents except Antarctica.

There are many subspecies of Peregrine Falcon, including:

  • Falco peregrinus peregrinus, the nominate mainly non-migratory race, which breeds over much of western Eurasia
  • F.p. anatum is mostly found in the Rocky Mountains. Although it used to be common throughout eastern North America, and is currently being re-introduced in the region, it remains uncommon in much of its former range. Most mature anatums, except those that breed in more northern areas, winter in their breeding range. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe
  • F. p. brookei of southern Europe to the Caucasus is smaller and more rufous below that the nominate race.
  • F. p. calidus breeds in the Arctic tundra of Eurasia and is completely migratory and travels as far as sub-Saharan Africa. It is larger and paler than the nominate race
  • F. p. madens breeds in the Cape Verde Islands and has brown-washed upperparts.
  • F.p. pealei is found in the Pacific Northwest of North America, and is non-migratory.
  • F. p. tundrius breeds in the Arctic tundra of North America but is migratory and travels as far as South America.

The Barbary Falcon, Falco (peregrinus) pelegrinoides, is often considered to be a subspecies of the Peregrine.

Peregrines in mild-winter regions are usually permanent residents, and some birds, especially adult males, will remain on the breeding territory. However, the Arctic subspecies migrate; tundrius birds from Alaska, northern Canada and Greenland migrate to Central and South America, and all calidus birds from northern Eurasia move further south or to coasts in winter.

Threats

The Peregrine Falcon became endangered because of the overuse of pesticides, 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, this species was wiped out by pesticides.

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.

The Peregrine, along with the Red-tailed Hawk and the Barn Owl, is considered an avian pest in many rural areas of the United States. Template:Fact

Recovery efforts

This Peregrine Falcon was found injured and survived in Olomouc Zoological Garden, the Czech Republic. One of activities of the zoological garden is a programme of helping injured birds of prey.

Wildlife services around the world organized Peregrine Falcon recovery teams to breed them in captivity.

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 eventually allowed released birds to breed successfully. There are now dozens of breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the northeastern USA and Canada. Many have settled in large cities, including London Ontario and Derby, where they nest on cathedrals, skyscraper window ledges and the towers of suspension bridges. About 18 pairs nested in New York City in 2005.[1] Indianapolis has a pair who have been nesting atop the Key Bank Building overlooking the city's circle. A live webcam of the pair, which have recently hatched chicks, can be seen at www.indystar.com/falconcam.

These structures typically closely resemble the natural 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 pigeons and Common Starlings. In many cities, the Falcons have been credited with controlling the numbers of such birds, which have often become pests, without resort to more controversial methods such as poisoning or hunting.

File:Stamp-ctc-1990s-recovering-species.png
Successful efforts at saving endangered species like the Peregrine were recognized by a U.S. postal stamp.

In Virginia, state officials working with students from the Center for Conservation Biology of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg successfully established nesting boxes high atop the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge on the York River, the Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge and Varina-Enon Bridge on the James River, and at other similar locations. Thirteen new chicks were hatched in this Virginia program during a recent year. Over 250 falcons have been released through the Virginia program.

The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the U.S. Threatened and Endangered Species list on August 25, 1999.

In the UK, there has been a good recovery of populations since the crash of the 1960s. This has been greatly assisted by conservation and protection work led by the RSPB. Peregrines now breed in many mountainous and coastal areas, especially in the west and north. They are also using some city buildings for nesting, capitalizing on the urban pigeon populations for food.

Trivia

The Mediterranean Peregrine Falcon, in this context known as the Maltese Falcon, was the annual rent required by Roman Emperor Charles V when he donated the Island of Malta to the Knights Hospitaller in 1530. The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet, reaching speeds in excess of 200mph in its patent hunting method, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then powers itself downwards at great speed into the back of the neck of its prey. The Peregrine Falcon has cones in its nostrils to help regulate breathing at high speed, and, once their use had been found, they were mimicked in fighter jets. On a clear day, a Peregrine Falcon couldfocus on something mouse-sized up to eight miles off.

External links

bg:Сокол скитник cs:Sokol stěhovavý da:Vandrefalk de:Wanderfalke el:Πετρίτης es:Falco peregrinus eo:Migra falko fr:Faucon pèlerin it:Falco pellegrino lt:Sakalas keleivis mk:Сив сокол nl:Slechtvalk ja:ハヤブサ no:Vandrefalk pl:Sokół wędrowny pt:Falcão peregrino sk:Sokol sťahovavý sr:Сиви соко fi:Muuttohaukka sv:Pilgrimsfalk tr:Bayağı doğan uk:Сапсан

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