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Falco peregrinus

Peregrine falcon

Habitus (CC BY-SA 4.0) Carlos Delgado

Short Description

The peregrine falcon is easily identified by the black top of its heads (cap) and the broad, black stripe under its eyes (moustachial stripe). Its upper parts are dark-blue-grey. Its underparts are whitish with dark barring. The cere at the base of the bill, the eye-ring and the legs are bright yellow. The wings are somewhat pointed and the tail slightly rounded.

Females are larger than males.

Features

Peregrine falcon

Falco peregrinus

  • black cap

  • broad black moustachial stripe

Flugrufe

Frommolt, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Similar species

Northern goshawk

Accipiter gentilis
The Northern goshawk is more uniformly coloured with narrow barring. The tail is long.

Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus
The sparrowhawk is more elegant with a long tail and in some instances with a reddish plumage. The underside is distinctly barred.

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus
The kestrel is more reddish in colour with tapered wings. Males have a grey head. In flight, kestrels can be recognised by their characteristic hovering flight.
Flugsilhouette (CC BY 2.0) Stefan Berndtsson

In the city

In an urban setting, peregrine falcons mainly nest in buildings such as high church towers or bridges. In 2006, 30% of the peregrine falcon population in Germany were nesting in buildings.

Nesting platforms are readily accepted by peregrine falcons.

Fun Facts

  • When swooping down, peregrine falcons are among the fastest birds in the world, reaching speeds in excess of 340 km/h.

  • Peregrine falcons kill their prey almost exclusively in free flight. These include domestic pigeons, starlings, thrushes, skylarks, chaffinches and ravens.

  • In Central Europe, they can be seen in their territories all year round.

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Habitus (CC BY 2.0) Carl Mueller

Sources

Habitus , Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falco_peregrinus_-_01.jpg

Flugsilhouette, Stefan Berndtsson, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falco_peregrinus_G%C3%B6teborg.jpg

Habitus , Carl Mueller, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Falco_peregrinus_tethered.jpg

Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.

Page „Wanderfalke“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 16.02.2016, 14:10 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wanderfalke&oldid=151569425 (Accessed: 18.02.2016).

Artenfinder (2016) Falco peregrinus (Wanderfalke), URL: https://arteninfo.net/elearning/voegel/speciesportrait/2916 (Accessed: 24.04.2016).

NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (n.d.) Der Wanderfalke - Vogel des Jahres 1971, URL: https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/aktionen-und-projekte/vogel-des-jahres/1971-wanderfalke (Accessed: 02.05.2017).