Peregrine Falcons : Master of Hunting

What is a Peregrine Falcon?

A Peregrine Falcon is a predatory bird. When diving at full speed, it is the fastest animal on the planet. Peregrine Falcons live on all continents except Antarctica. They live in almost every type of biome, especially grasslands. Peregrine Falcon chicks stay in the nest for about 6 weeks until they grow their flight feathers.

Diet

Peregrine Falcons eat small to medium sized birds like doves, pigeons, and ducks.

Predators

Great Horned Owls and Golden Eagles feed on Peregrine Falcons.

 

Facts About the Peregrine Falcon

Super Dive

Peregrine falcons go into a dive when hunting prey. This dive is called the stoop. When Peregrine Falcons dive, they reach speeds of 240 miles per hour, making them the fastest animals in the world.

Widespread and Everywhere

Peregrine Falcons live in every continent except Antarctica. They have adapted to all sorts of habitats. Peregrine falcons even build their nests on man-made things like buildings and bridges!

Two Eyelids

Peregrine falcons have a second transparent eyelid used to protect their eyes while diving. This way, it maintains sight throughout its dive.

Guides at the Nose

While diving, the wind pressures could damage the peregrine’s lungs, if it hadn’t been for the tubercles near its nose that guides the air away from the falcon’s nose. This helps it breathe more easily.

Awesome Flight

Peregrine falcons are capable of doing extraordinary moves in the air. When the male falcon passes prey that it caught to the female, the female has to fly upside down and grab it with her talons. This is one example of the different maneuvers that peregrine falcons do.

 

What Enables Peregrine Falcons to Dive so Fast?

Larger Keel

A keel is a bone that birds have to help it fly. A peregrine’s keel is larger with more muscles, so the peregrine’s wing beat is more powerful.

Sharp Wings

Peregrine falcons tuck in their wings into their sides when they dive. A peregrine falcon’s wings are pointed, allowing the peregrine to reach its amazingly high speeds.

Slim Feathers

A peregrine’s feathers are slim, reducing the drag that is caused. This also helps the peregrine fly faster.

Efficient Respiratory Systems

While diving, a peregrine falcon can still breathe through the heavy wind pressures. This is because it has air sacks in its lungs that are inflated even while the peregrine falcon is exhaling.

More Speed

A peregrine falcon’s heartbeat is extremely fast: 600 to 900 beats per minute. Its fast heart beat allows oxygen to travel through the peregrines body.

 

 

Peregrine falcons had been considered endangered in the mid-1900’s. This was because of a disease called DDT. DDT was a pesticide that caused peregrine falcon’s eggshells to be extremely fragile and thin. DDT was banned by the United States and other countries in the 1970’s. Because of this, peregrine falcons have made an excellent comeback and are now restored to their original status.

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