Peregrine Falcon

by Liana Granum

Peregrine falcons (falco peregrinus) can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They have even been seen over the ocean. As well as having such a wide spread range, they migrate. The peregrines that we see in the Willamette Valley travel to Central America and northern South America every fall, and then back again every spring. Juveniles travel far from their birth site, to find a place to nest, but then they usually tend to use the same nesting site each year.

Peregrines like to live in wetlands, alpine meadows, or tundra habitat. They scrape out a nest, 50 to 200 feet above the ground, usually from the rock in a cliff face, and very rarely from a tree. They lay two to four eggs every year, however, only one or two out of every 10 eggs that hatch survive to maturity.

Peregrines are one of the fastest animals on earth. They have been clocked at speeds up to 220 miles per hour. They use this ability to hunt their prey, hitting unsuspecting ducks, pheasants, or pigeons from the air.

The peregrine's dark back and light breast, which looks barred, identifies this raptor. They have yellow feet, beaks, and eye-rings. One way to tell juveniles from adults is that juveniles have pale yellowish-gray feet and eye-rings, and brown backs. They are approximately the size of an adult crow.

The peregrine falcon has had to adapt to the growing human population. As cities have encroached on their territory, they have moved into the city. They find ledges on tall city buildings perfect for their nests, and they readily move into boxes placed there for them. Peregrines that nest in the city are less likely to migrate, as there is a steady food source available - pigeons.