Wildlifeof Nepal
Peregrine Falcon
Birds of Prey
Photo: Nicolás Villaseca Merino · CC BY-SA 4.0
Falco peregrinus
Basic stats
Diet
Birds, such as pigeons and ducks
Habitat
From Arctic tundra to the tropics, including cities
Range
Nearly worldwide except polar regions, high mountains and most tropical rainforest
Size
34–58cm
Wingspan
74–120cm
Weight
330–1,500g
The peregrine falcon is a large, crow-sized falcon famous for its speed, with a blue-grey back, barred white underparts and a black head. It is 34–58cm long with a wingspan of 74–120cm. The sexes look alike, but females are up to 30% larger: males weigh 330–1,000g and females 700–1,500g. The back and long pointed wings are bluish-black to slate grey with indistinct darker barring, and the wing-tips are black (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is the world's most widespread raptor, breeding from Arctic tundra to the tropics and absent only from extreme polar regions, very high mountains, most tropical rainforest and New Zealand. It adapts well to cities, nesting on tall buildings and feeding on abundant pigeons and ducks. Both its English and scientific names mean wandering falcon, for the migrations of many northern birds, and 18 or 19 subspecies are recognised (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Peregrine Falcon eat?
- Birds, such as pigeons and ducks
- What habitat does the Peregrine Falcon live in?
- From Arctic tundra to the tropics, including cities
- Where is the Peregrine Falcon found?
- Nearly worldwide except polar regions, high mountains and most tropical rainforest
- How big is the Peregrine Falcon?
- 34–58cm
- What is the wingspan of the Peregrine Falcon?
- 74–120cm
- How much does the Peregrine Falcon weigh?
- 330–1,500g