ANIMAL FACTS
PEREGRINE
Scientific name: Falco perigrinus
ALL ABOUT PEREGRINE FALCONS
John Booth
The peregrine falcon is a master of the air,
arguably the fastest animal in the world when it dives
to catch birds in flight. It has been prized for
hundreds of years for falconry, but has also been
greatly persecuted in the wild as well as suffering
greatly from certain industrial pesticides.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Sean Browne
The peregrine is a medium-sized bird of prey up to
43cm long and with a wingspan reaching 106cm.
The female is larger than the male. Both sexes
have blue-grey upper parts, with dark blue wings
and head. The breast is pale and finely spotted
and the head has bold moustache-like stripes. The
wings are long, with a broad base and pointed tips,
dark blue above and pale, with bars below.
WHEN & WHERE TO SEE
In the UK, the peregrine falcon mainly lives in the North
and West uplands and rocky coasts, but has recently
spread to southern coasts as well. It typically prefers
open country and hunts over agricultural land, marshes
and estuaries. However, in recent years peregrines
have shown themselves to be very adaptable and now
hunt and breed in a number of towns and cities. They
are usually seen flying quickly using fast wing-beats,
mixed with long glides, or soaring high in the sky in the
search of prey. Most hunting is done at dawn or dusk.
Peregrines living in towns are most easily seen
roosting on tall buildings, which closely match their
preferred natural nesting sites on crags, cliffs and other
steep rock faces.
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
The peregrine falcon eats mostly
birds, including feral pigeon, wood
pigeon, lapwing, skylark,
black-headed gull, blackbird and
starling, although rabbits are also
occasionally hunted. It catches
its prey mainly in the air, either by
chasing it and attacking from
below or in breathtaking dives
from above. These dives can
reach up to 200 miles an hour,
until it suddenly slows and strikes
with its talons from below its prey.
Nottingham Trent
University
DID YOU KNOW?
Peregrine falcons will re-use nest sites
over many years and the pairs will
perform amazing aerobatic displays when
they return to them in February to begin
breeding. The female lays 3-4 eggs in
March – April, which hatch after she has incubated them for 33 days. At first the male
does all the hunting while the female looks after the chicks, but both parents hunt when
the chicks get larger. The young fly after 39 days, gradually becoming independent of
their parents.
You can see peregrine falcons in the centre of Nottingham. Look up at the Nottingham
Trent Newton Building opposite the Cornerhouse during nesting season (March to July)
and you’ll spot a whole family, including the chicks. You’ll get a better view by checking
out our website where you can watch the live web stream of the nest. You’ll be able to
watch the young hatch, and then the parents flying in and out of the nest
feeding what look just like little white balls of fluff. As it gets closer to the summer, you’ll
see the now brown and much bigger chicks leave the nest for the last time.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
We are Nottinghamshire’s largest environmental charity.
We care for more than 70 nature reserves around the county,
working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.
Alongside 47 other UK Wildlife Trusts, we stand up to protect local wildlife
and habitats. For further information please visit our website:
www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org
Address: The Old Ragged School, Brook St, Nottingham, NG1 1EA.
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0115 958 8242
Charity no. 224168R. Registered in England, no.748865.