Class:
Aves
Order:
Falconiformes
Scientific Name:
Falco peregrinus
Range:
Nearly world-wide
Habitat:
Seacoasts, mountains, rocky crags, temperate forests
Diet:
Wild: small to medium-sized birds, small mammals
Zoo: mice, chicks
Gestation:
Incubation: about 30 days
Litter:
Clutch: usually three
Life Span:
Life-span: 10-12 years (in the wild)
Description:
Adults are dark gray to black above, darkest on side of head. Gray tips to wing coverts, rump pale gray finely barred with black. The nape often has rufous feather tips. Cheeks and underparts white to pale rufous. Breast has black bars. Flight feathers and tail slate-gray with narrow white bars below. Bill black with pale gray base, eyes dark brown; cere, eye-ring and bare legs deep yellow. Sexes similar in plumage, with female about 10% larger than male. Juveniles are sooty-brown above with rufous edges to feathers. White to buff below with narrow pointed streaks. Cere and eye-ring blue-gray.
Did You Know?
In the late 1950’s Peregrine Falcon populations showed a rapid decline across the northern hemisphere. This was found to be due to the use of DDT in agriculture. There is now a steady recovery of populations.
Peregrine Falcons are now found to be nesting on ledges and windowsills of tall buildings and bridges. This is apparently a new habitat for them.
Where in the Zoo?
I can be found in the Conservation Education Programs at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
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