Raptors at Risk
The Fastest Bird on Earth
Have you ever been dive-bombed by a large, squawking bird with long, pointed wings? If so, you may have come too close to the nest of a peregrine falcon. If a peregrine swooped down on you, you would remember because this falcon is the fastest bird on earth.
Nesting
The favourite spot for a peregrine falcon to make its nest is on the ledge of a cliff. When it can't find one, it will use abandoned nests or even the ledges of buildings in urban areas. The peregrine doesn't use materials to build its nest; it just scrapes out a hollow to lay its eggs.
The Raptor – A Bird of Prey
This falcon is a raptor which means it hunts and kills its food. Unlike other birds, that use their beaks to catch prey, the peregrine uses its strong feet and sharp talons. This falcon is so good at hunting that licensed falconers can buy one and train it to hunt for them. (Falconry is a practice that is thousands of years old.)
The Wanderer
The name "peregrine" means "wanderer". This bird has one of the longest migration routes of all the birds in North America. It has been known to travel up to 25,000 km (15,500 mi) in a year. Falcons from southern Ontario fly to Central and South America in the winter.
The Pesticide Problem
The peregrine is at the top of the food chain, eating mostly other medium-sized birds. Sometimes the birds it eats consume grain and insects that have been sprayed with pesticides. The pesticide DDT interfered with the peregrine's breeding pattern and resulted in the loss of many eggs and chicks. Before the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s the peregrine falcon was considered extirpated (completely gone) from Ontario.
Peregrine Recovery
To help reestablish the peregrine population, biologists had to breed the birds in captivity and reintroduce them into the wild. The peregrine's status has improved. It is now considered "threatened" in Ontario. To see a video clip about how the peregrine was saved from extinction click here and then try out the quiz provided.
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Photo: Courtesy of National Park Service |
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Get the Facts
Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus
Average Life Span: 7 – 15 years
Average Wing Span: 1 metre (3.3 feet)
Average Weight:
Male: 570 grams (1.3 pounds)
Female: 910 grams (2 pounds)
Colour: Dark blue-gray wings and backs marked with
black bars. Undersides are light, with black speckles and a touch of salmon. Black stripe under each eye.
Nesting: Peregrines return to their favourite nesting areas every year. Peregrine nests are called "scrapes" or "eyries".
Breeding: Female lays 3-5 eggs in March or April.
Parents take turns sitting on the eggs. Eggs hatch after 1 month.
Favourite Food: Diet varies depending on the bird's territory. Pigeons,ducks, blackbirds and pheasants are common prey.
Mating: Most peregrines stay with the same mate forever.
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When they spot their prey, falcons bob their heads up and down. This helps focus their vision clearly on their target.
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