Identification
Distribution
Habitat
Diet
Breeding Biology
The
Peregrine Falcon
A falcon
is any species of
raptor in
the genus Falco.
There are approximately 37 species of falcons found
throughout the world. Here in New Jersey, 3 species of
falcons can be found hunting the skies: the peregrine
falcon, American kestrel, and the merlin.
Identification
The
peregrine falcon, as the fastest bird in the skies, has
fascinated people for centuries. Formerly known as the duck
hawk, the peregrine falcon is the largest falcon in New
Jersey, and the world’s fastest bird. Like other
falcons, peregrines can be distinguished by their long
pointed wings and exceptional flight speed. Adult peregrine
falcons have slate gray to bluish backs and a light-colored
chest with a fine brown horizontal barring that becomes
lighter with age. Like most falcon species, peregrine
falcons show a distinct sideburn or “mustache”
mark on each side of the face. The cere, the fleshy area
behind the base of the bill that contains the nostrils, and
the legs are yellow, the bill is black, and the eyes are
dark brown. Immature peregrine falcons are brown above with
a light colored chest that is streaked vertically with
brown markings. The cere and legs are pale blue and the
bill is black. Adult coloration is acquired the summer
after fledging.
Their wingspan averages between 3 and 4 feet and they
weight between 1 and 1.5 pounds.
Female peregrine falcons are bigger than the males, as much
as one-third larger than the males. Thus, males are called
tiercels. The peregrine falcon’s call is a series of
quick, loud kee
notes.
Distribution
The peregrine falcon is a cosmopolitan species, living in
cities, throughout much of the world. Peregrine falcons
nest in North America, ranging throughout the Canadian and
Alaskan arctic and at scattered locations within Canada,
the United States, and Mexico. Peregrines winter throughout
the Americas, occurring along the Atlantic, Pacific, and
Gulf Coasts of the United States south to Chile and
Argentina.
Historically, peregrine falcons nested on cliffs in New
Jersey along the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. Today,
peregrines nest atop city buildings, bridges, and man-made
nesting towers. Most large bridges between New Jersey, New
York or Philadelphia contain nesting pairs of peregrines.
Peregrines nest atop tall buildings in cities, and one pair
even resides atop an Atlantic City casino. Also, man-made
nesting towers are home to peregrines along both the
Atlantic and Delaware Bay coasts.
<
return to top
>
Peregrines that nest in New Jersey typically occupy their
territories year-round (Most do not migrate).
Habitat
Traditionally,
peregrine falcons located their nests on cliffs and rock
outcrops. But as people began to inhabit areas occupied by
peregrines, the birds took to nesting on bridges and
buildings. Today, peregrines continue to nest on man-made
structures but they have returned to their historic nesting
areas, the cliffs of the Palisades overlooking the Hudson
River.
Diet
The
peregrine falcon specializes in pursuing avian prey (AKA
birds). It relies on speed and agility to capture other
birds. A hunting peregrine dives with amazing speed towards
its prey, striking the bird with such force that it is
often killed upon impact. This act, called a stoop, is what
makes the peregrine falcon the world’s fastest
animal, capable of flying at speeds of 200 miles per hour!
Peregrines feed on a variety of birds, including pigeons,
songbirds, doves, crows, shorebirds, and ducks. Female
peregrines, being larger, are capable of capturing larger
prey than males. The diet of a peregrine varies with its
nesting habitat. City-dwelling peregrines typically feed on
pigeons and starlings while peregrines nesting in marshes
feed on shorebirds and ducks.
<
return to top
>
Breeding
Biology
Peregrine
falcons in New Jersey typically remain near their nesting
area year-round. Courtship activity among nesting pairs
starts during March. The displaying birds circle high in
the air, and then dive at each other in a stoop toward the
ground, sometimes locking talons. Pairs also exchange food
in midair.
From late March to late April, the peregrine falcon lays a
clutch of three to four eggs. Peregrines do not construct
nests. Instead, they lay their eggs either directly on the
surface of the nesting structure of in a shallow, unlined
scrape within small rocks or dirt. The eggs are cream
colored and are heavily marked with reddish-brown spotting.
The female lays eggs at two to three-day intervals, but
does not begin incubation until the clutch is complete, so
eggs hatch around the same day. This is called synchronous
hatching.
Incubation lasts between 32 to 24 days, and is conducted
primarily by the female. When settling in to incubate, both
birds move gingerly over the eggs. The falcons keep their
feet bunched up in order to avoid inflicting damage to the
eggs with their sharp talons. The birds also periodically
roll the eggs with their beaks, in order to incubate them
evenly.
Peregrine chicks start to cheep in the egg before they
emerge from the shell, and become progressively louder once
the actual hatch begins. The chicks start to pip about 72
hours before the hatch. At this time, the adults are very
focused at the sound and movement of the eggs. Chicks are
altricial, meaning they are born in a relatively
underdeveloped state. For about 2 weeks after hatching, the
male hunts and delivers food to the female and the female
feeds and cares for the chicks. At about 3 weeks old, the
chicks begin to walk and jump around the nest. As the
chicks grow, the female also begins to hunt and both adults
present the young with prey. At 40 to 48 days old, the
chicks are able to fly but they stay close to the nest
site. They remain dependent on the adults for an additional
2 months. Peregrine falcons exhibit strong fidelity to
their natal sites, and young birds may return to the area
of their birth when they are able to breed. Juvenile males
may breed the following year, but females do not breed
until they are two to three years old.
