Once called the “Duck Hawk,” Peregrines are widely distributed from the tundra to the tropics, from

Peregrine Falcon  by Kent Keller     ©Kent R. Keller

wetlands to deserts, and from the flat plains to mountain ledges. About the only places they are not found is the Amazon Basin, the Sahara Desert, and most of the steppes of central and eastern Asia and Antarctica. It’s one of the most widely distributed birds in the world.

 Many people associate the Peregrine with wilderness areas. None of the falcon species build their own nests. Instead they use cliff ledges or stick nests constructed by other raptors or corvids. Man-made structures, such as nest boxes, bridges, and building ledges and crevices, are also used. When nesting in the middle of big cities, they are conspicuous and easy to see.

 While serving as a Church Security Department officer on Temple Square a few years ago (incidentally, our Dennis Shirley did the same type of service), a nest box with a camera was set up on an upper floor ledge of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Its intent was to allow people to follow the hatching and fledging of newborn Peregrines on-line. Another service missionary officer from California was so enamored with their growing up that he may have watched them as much as he was watching for illegal and unusual human behavior on the security monitors—he even named the chicks and could point them out on the screen and call them by name. 

 With the widespread use of chemicals (e.g., DDT) during the 1950s and 1960s that lowered reproduction, the Peregrine was greatly harmed. DDT reduced the amount of calcium in the eggshells and with thinner shells, fewer falcon eggs survived to hatch. In several parts of the world, such as the eastern United States, this species became extinct. Thankfully, by 1970 the Peregrine was federally protected in the United States, and the chemical culprits (e.g., DDT) were banned in North America by 1972. Since then, Peregrines have made a strong recovery.

 The name Peregrine means “wanderer,” and northern-nesting peregrines are a long-distance migratory species. Most spend only a few months over the northern third of their North American breeding range, but some populations remain sedentary.

 Falconry

 The peregrine has been highly sought as a falconry bird for more than 3,000 years. It’s one of the easier falcons to train. They are occasionally used to scare away birds at airports to reduce the risk of bird-plane strikes. Captive breeding methods has led to peregrines being commercially available for falconry use.

 “Stooping”

The Peregrine is well known for holding the wings against the body as it free-falls. Measurements using airspeed indicators attached to birds and have recorded their and other bird flight speeds.

 The peregrine falcon reaches faster speeds than any other animal on the planet when performing the stoop, which involves soaring to a great height and then diving steeply at speeds over 200 mph, hitting one wing of its prey so as not to harm itself on impact.

 The below table shows the four fastest birds. The Peregrine surpasses all other birds. Go the source cited below the table for additional fast birds.

Source: Wikipedia “List of Birds by Flight Speed”

 The average age in the wild is up to 19 years 9 months. Fledglings at cliffs may be killed by other raptors, especially Great Horned Owls and Golden Eagles. Urban fledglings may have collisions with automobiles, windows, and other human-made objects.

 Identification

Adult Peregrine Falcon

 • Size of a crow but longer looking.
 • Black head from crown to below the eyes with “sideburns” makes the bird look like it’s wearing a helmet.
 • Very large head, wide shoulders (looks like an elongated teardrop)
 • Upperparts bluish-gray (becoming more blackish on head).
 • Underparts are whitish below with blackish horizontal barring on belly and checkered underwings.

 Flight Description:

 • Long, narrow, pointed wings
 • Soars on flat wings
 • Steady in flight at all times
 • Powerful, fluid, whip-like, “rolling” wing beats

 Similar Species

 These Utah falcon species can be confused with a Peregrine:

 • Merlin: Smaller; heavily streaked underparts; black tail with wide whitish bands; pale face

 • Prairie Falcon: Paler overall; light brown (sandy) upperparts; whitish underparts streaked with heavy brown spots; whitish face; brown barred tail; black “armpits.”

 • Gyrfalcon: extremely rare in Utah; it’s much larger than a Peregrine.

 All Falcons have wing beats that are usually steady and uninterrupted. Buteos, accipiters, and Harriers flap in a series and then glide.

 Jerry Liguori says that when soaring, the Peregrine’s silhouette resembles that of a “cocked bow and arrow.” 

 Dunne, Pete, Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company) 2006. 

 Liguori, Jerry and Brian Sullivan, Raptor ID app (Salt Lake City: HawkWatch International).

 Liguori, Jerry, Hawks From Every Angle (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press) 2005.