Page 54 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators
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Amazing 1. How fast can a
peregrine falcon
facts dive after prey?
The peregrine falcon can reach
speeds of over 320 kilometres
(198.8 miles) per hour during its
hunting stoop – a high-speed
dive to catch prey, mostly feral
pigeons and collared doves.
This makes it roughly three
times faster than a cheetah,
which has a top speed of 120
kilometres (74.6 miles) per
hour. In 2005, a peregrine
falcon named Frightful was
recorded reaching speeds of
389.46 kilometres (242 miles)
per hour, and during level flight
How the these birds can reach speeds of
between 64 and 97 kilometres
(39.8 and 60.3 miles) per hour,
which is also one of the fastest
known cruising flight speeds.
Falconidae for speed. It has a modified
The peregrine falcon is built
breastbone called a keel, which
is where a birds’ muscles for
flight are attached. These
powerful muscles help the bird
family hunt Their pointed wings have stiff
to reach these high speeds.
and slim feathers that create
a streamlined figure, reducing
drag as the bird dives through
Fast, powerful and agile, these birds are Their highly efficient and strong
the air to catch its next meal.
formidable predators of the sky – and the ground continually supplied with
hearts keep their muscles
oxygen, which prevents fatigue. © Getty
Words Baljeet Panesar
4. Do falcons ever hunt together?
2. Which species is Mountain caracaras (Phalcoboenus
the smallest? © Thinkstock megalopterus) have been observed
Falconets (right) are the smallest hunting in groups to overturn
of all birds of prey and measure rocks, which one bird wouldn’t be
between 14 and 17 centimetres (5.5 able to do alone.
and 6.7 inches) in length. Found in
5. Are they known to steal things?
Southeast Asia, they mostly feed on The striated caracara
insects, including dragonflies, moths,
(Phalcoboenus australis) is known
butterflies, termites and beetles.
to steal red objects, possibly
Despite only weighing between 28 because it is the colour of meat.
and 55 grams, the black-thighed
falconet (Microhierax fringillarius) has 6. Can they eat on the go?
been observed killing a black-capped During their annual migration,
babbler (a bird roughly the same size Amur falcons (Falco amurensis)
as itself), making it one of the largest eat the dragonflies that follow
and heaviest prey of the falconet. the same migratory path over the
Arabian Sea.
7. Which one sounds like a parrot?
3. Can falcons hunt on the ground? The white-rumped falcon When the taita falcon (Falco
(Polihierax insignis) feeds on insects and lizards caught in fasciinucha) is hunting, its wings
are beating fast enough that it
trees or the ground. They don’t catch insects in the air. makes it sound like a parrot.
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