Quick Facts
- Type
- Bird
- Size
- 34–58 cm (body length)
- Weight
- 0.6–1.5 kg
- Habitat
- Cliffs, coasts, and cities worldwide
- Diet
- Mainly other birds, caught in flight
- Active Time
- Active by day (diurnal)
- Lifespan
- Up to 15–17 years in the wild
Field Notes
- In a hunting dive, the peregrine falcon can exceed 320 km/h, the fastest of any animal.
- Special bony tubercles in its nostrils let it breathe at extreme diving speeds.
- Many peregrines now nest on skyscrapers and bridges instead of cliffs.
About the Peregrine Falcon
The peregrine falcon is a powerful bird of prey found on every continent except Antarctica, making it one of the most widespread birds in the world. With a slate-grey back, barred underparts, and a distinctive dark 'moustache' stripe, it hunts other birds in mid-air. The peregrine is renowned as the fastest animal on the planet: during its hunting stoop, or high-speed dive, it can exceed 320 km/h. It has adapted readily to cities, nesting on tall buildings and bridges in place of cliffs.
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