Page 145 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae Species Falco peregrinus
Peregrine yellow eye-ring

yellow bill-base white cheek patch
ADULT anchor-shaped
wings
black lobes white
blue-grey on each breast
broad upperparts side of face
pale and neck
rump bluish eye-
ring and large, solid
bill-base body with
broad
short, IN FLIGHT shoulders
square
dark tail
closely
barred
white
underside
browner than
adult above with
buff edges
streaked below
ADULT
JUVENILE
buff tail grey bars on
tip flanks and belly
FLIGHT: direct level flight fast with quick, regular,
deep, whippy wingbeats; also soars on straight, flat ADULT
wings; acrobatic, with long, fast, near-vertical stoops.
yellow feet
ne of the larger falcons, the Peregrine is a symbol of survival against
Othe odds,these being persecution and pesticide poisoning that
threatened it with extinction. Now it has made a strong comeback; in the
UK, it is more common than it has ever been, although parts of its former
range remain unoccupied.As with most falcons and hawks, females are
considerably larger than males. Pairs often remain together for long
periods, soaring over nesting cliffs.
VOICE Loud, raucous calls at nest include throaty haak-haak-haak-haak
and whining kee-keee-eeeeee and wheeee-ip.
NESTING On broad ledge or earthy scrape on cliff, in quarry, or more
rarely on building or on flatter ground; 2–4 eggs; 1 brood; March–June. STRIKING ADULT
FEEDING Kills birds of sizes ranging from thrush to pigeon or grouse, Peregrines look dark against the sky, but a
sometimes larger, often rising to take them from beneath, chasing in level close view reveals black, white, and yellow
flight, or stooping from great height. adding sharp contrast to the overall grey.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread but scarce, breeding
KESTREL 32; through Scandinavia, N and W
see p.140
smaller Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Alps,
and darker; lighter Italy, and Balkans, in hills and
lighter build build
coasts with cliffs, increasingly in
cities. Present all year, some
HOBBY wandering in winter.
found only
in summer; longer Seen in the UK
see p.142 tail J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 39–50cm (15 1 ⁄2 –20in) Wingspan 0.95–1.15m (3–3 3 ⁄4ft) Weight 600–1,300g (21–46oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Rare
143