The Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird in the world in a dive.
Introduction
The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a medium-sized diurnal Bird of Prey belonging to the Falconidae family. It is globally recognized as the fastest bird in the world, capable of reaching extreme speeds in a dive to hunt its prey. This "master of the skies" is an unmatched bird hunter, combining speed, power, and elegance in its morphology and hunting behaviors. Its Latin name, peregrinus, means "wanderer" or "pilgrim," referring to its long journeys outside the breeding season.
Length: 37 to 58 cm (14.6 to 22.8 in) (females are larger than males).
Wingspan: 86 to 115 cm (33.9 to 45.3 in).
Weight: 550 g (1.2 lbs) to 1.3 kg (2.9 lbs) (females are heavier).
The Peregrine Falcon is found on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. Its populations experienced a dramatic decline in the mid-20th century, primarily due to the use of organochlorine pesticides like DDT, but have since rebounded thanks to protection measures and the banning of these substances. It is now classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.
Our Ornithologist's Advice
By the Les-Oiseaux.com Team, published November 6, 2025.
My personal advice: Observing a Peregrine Falcon is a thrilling experience, as it is a predator of formidable efficiency. Here are my tips to maximize your chances and appreciate this iconic raptor:
Look for cliffs and tall buildings: The Peregrine Falcon is an excellent cliff-nester, preferring rocky cliffs. However, it has remarkably adapted to urban environments, using skyscraper ledges, cathedrals, water towers, or chimneys as nesting sites. Scan these structures, especially in spring.
Observe at sunrise and sunset: Although diurnal, it is particularly active at dawn and dusk. It is often during these times that you can see it hunting or returning to the nest.
Spot its characteristic flight: In flight, its long, narrow, and pointed wings give it a very distinctive "scythe" silhouette. Look for its fast, beating flight, often followed by short glides.
Watch for its black "moustaches": A prominent black band below the eye, resembling a mustache, is a key feature to identify it and distinguish it from other falcons.
Listen for its piercing call: Its vocal repertoire is discreet outside the breeding season, but it can emit sharp, piercing calls ("ka yak") in flight or loud "huit" sounds when alarmed or demanding food.
The presence of the Peregrine Falcon, especially in cities, is an indicator of nature's ability to reclaim territories and the effectiveness of conservation efforts. It is a true symbol of resilience.
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Identification
The Peregrine Falcon is a powerful, medium-sized raptor, characterized by its aerodynamic silhouette, perfectly adapted for speed.
<Plumage: Adults have a slaty to bluish-grey back and upperwings. The underparts are whitish, pale grey, cream, or rufous, intensely streaked or barred with black or dark brown. The throat is white.
Head: Almost entirely black, with a dark cap and nape. The most distinctive feature is the broad black "moustache" descending below the eye, contrasting sharply with the white cheeks.
Eyes: Dark, often encircled by yellow facial skin.
Beak: Short, strong, and hooked, partially hidden by facial feathers.
Legs: Yellow, ending in powerful, dark talons.
Juvenile: Young birds (up to 1 year old) have dark brown upperparts. The underparts are yellowish-brown or buff, heavily streaked with black. The black bands on the underparts are more elongated than in adults.
Silhouette and Flight: In flight, its wings are long, narrow, and pointed, sickle-shaped, ideal for fast flight and breathtaking dives. Its tail is short. Its flight is characterized by rapid and regular wingbeats.
Scientific Dimensions and Records (Peregrine Falcon)
Characteristic
Male
Female
Record / Average
Length
36 – 49 cm (14.2 – 19.3 in)
45 – 59 cm (17.7 – 23.2 in)
37 – 58 cm (14.6 – 22.8 in) (adults)
Wingspan
89 – 100 cm (35 – 39.4 in)
104 – 115 cm (40.9 – 45.3 in)
86 – 115 cm (33.9 – 45.3 in) (adults)
Weight
570 – 750 g (1.26 – 1.65 lbs)
900 – 1300 g (1.98 – 2.87 lbs)
550 – 1300 g (1.21 – 2.87 lbs) (adults)
Lifespan
8 – 15 years (in the wild)
8 – 15 years (in the wild)
Average 8-10 years, up to 20 years (in the wild), 25 years (in captivity)
Dive Speed
Up to 389 km/h (242 mph) (record)
Up to 389 km/h (242 mph) (record)
Record 389 km/h (242 mph)
These figures attest to the exceptional speed capability of the Peregrine Falcon, making it one of the most impressive raptors in the world.
Not to be confused with...
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
The Common Kestrel is a smaller raptor than the Peregrine Falcon. It has predominantly rufous plumage on its back, with brown spots (more pronounced in females) and a longer, often barred tail, ending in a broad black band (in males, the head and tail are blue-grey). Its facial "moustache" is less pronounced. It is famous for its hovering flight, often called "kiting."
The Eurasian Hobby is similar in size or slightly larger than the Common Kestrel, but more slender than the kestrel and smaller than the Peregrine Falcon. It resembles a miniature Peregrine Falcon, with more pointed and tapered wings and a swift-like silhouette. It is distinguished by its grey plumage on the back and head, a white belly streaked with black, white cheeks with pronounced black "moustaches," and notably, bright rufous "trousers" on its thighs and undertail coverts, clearly visible in flight.
Song and Calls
The Peregrine Falcon is generally a discreet bird outside the breeding season. However, it becomes more vocal in the presence of its conspecifics, during mating, or when alarmed.
Its calls can include:
Alarm and Contact Calls: It emits sharp, piercing calls, often transcribed as "ka-yak," "kek-kek-kek," or "huit-huit-huit." These vocalizations are used in flight, to mark its presence, or in case of disturbance.
Territorial Call: The male may emit loud "huit" sounds to mark its territory and attract a mate.
Calls of Young: Falconets and young birds demanding food can utter noisy and insistent cries, audible at a distance from the nest.
Courtship Display: During the breeding season, partners engage in spectacular aerial displays, with chases, breathtaking dives, and ascents, often accompanied by vocalizations.
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Habitat and Distribution of Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon is one of the birds with the widest distribution range in the world, being present on all continents except Antarctica. Its extraordinary adaptability allows it to occupy a great variety of habitats.
It is mainly found in:
Rocky Cliffs: This is its historical and preferred nesting habitat, whether coastal or mountainous (up to over 2,000 meters / 6,500 ft in altitude).
Open Environments: Tundra, meadows, coastal areas, marshes, and open forests, offering vast hunting grounds.
Artificial Sites: It has adapted to human presence and now nests on tall man-made structures such as water towers, power plant chimneys, cathedrals, skyscrapers, and quarries, especially in urban and suburban areas.
Plains: In winter, northern populations may migrate to warmer plains further south, attracted by concentrations of bird prey.
Populations in northern regions are migratory and spend winter in more temperate zones or in South America, while those in temperate regions are generally sedentary.
Distribution Map
Year-round Presence (Resident)
Breeding Area
Non-breeding (Wintering) Area
Passage Area (Migration)
Diet
The Peregrine Falcon is a formidable carnivorous predator, specializing in hunting birds in flight. Its diet is almost exclusively ornithophagous, although it can occasionally diversify its prey.
It primarily feeds on:
Birds: This is its preferred prey. It captures a wide variety of small to medium-sized species, such as pigeons (domestic and woodpigeons), gulls, crows, ducks, starlings, thrushes, blackbirds, songbirds, and waders. Its hunting technique involves diving on its prey at dizzying speeds, striking it with its talons before catching it.
Small Mammals: Occasionally, it may catch bats, rats, voles, hares, shrews, mice, or squirrels.
Other Invertebrates: Insects can supplement its diet.
The Peregrine Falcon mainly hunts by day, using its keen eyesight to spot prey from the sky or a high perch. The speed of its dive, which can reach 389 km/h (242 mph), allows it to surprise and catch its victims in mid-air. Indigestible parts of its prey are regurgitated as pellets.
Reproduction
The Peregrine Falcon is a faithful species, with pairs often remaining bonded for life and returning to the same nesting site year after year, if undisturbed. Sexual maturity is reached around two years of age.
Nest: Like all falcons, it does not build a nest. It uses natural cavities, existing platforms on cliffs, rocky ledges, or old nests of large birds like crows. In urban environments, it settles on tall human-made structures. The nesting site is chosen by the male, and the female selects the final egg-laying location.
Courtship Display: The breeding season begins with spectacular aerial courtship displays, featuring chases, dizzying dives, and ascents, often accompanied by vocalizations. Mating begins from January to March.
Eggs: The female typically lays 3 to 5 eggs (most often 3 or 4) that are white-beige or dark brown in color, spotted. Laying occurs between late March and mid-April. Incubation lasts approximately 29 to 33 days and is primarily performed by the female, with the male sometimes replacing her during the day and being responsible for bringing prey.
Raising the Young: Chicks hatch covered in white down and are fed by both parents. They remain in the nest for about 35 to 46 days before taking their first flight. After leaving the nest area, the fledglings remain dependent on adults for 6 to 9 weeks to learn how to hunt.
Conservation Status
The Peregrine Falcon is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) globally (last assessed in 2018). It is a cosmopolitan species with a vast distribution range and an estimated global population of between 100,000 and 1,200,000 individuals, considered stable or moderately increasing.
However, this global status masks significant past declines and persistent local threats:
Organochlorine Pesticides (DDT): The widespread use of pesticides like DDT after World War II caused a drastic drop in populations in North America and Europe. These substances led to eggshell thinning and nest abandonment. The ban on DDT in the 1970s was crucial for the species' recovery.
Hunting and Persecution: Historically, the Peregrine Falcon was persecuted and hunted, notably for its predation on poultry or for recreational purposes. Although legally protected in many regions (such as France since 1972), poaching and "eyass" (young falcon) removal from nests have been significant threats.
Habitat Loss and Degradation: Although adaptable, the degradation or loss of its nesting and hunting habitats, particularly through urbanization or intensive agriculture, can locally affect populations.
Collisions: Collisions with vehicles or human structures can be a source of mortality, especially for young birds.
Toxic Products: The use of rodenticides can lead to secondary poisoning of falcons that consume poisoned rodents.
Conservation efforts, including legal protection, monitoring of nesting sites, and reintroduction of captive-bred individuals, have led to a significant expansion of populations. In Canada, although some subspecies are still designated "of concern" or "vulnerable," the anatum/tundrius complex is now considered "not at risk."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to identify the Peregrine Falcon?
The Peregrine Falcon is a medium-sized raptor with a powerful, streamlined body. It is characterized by a metallic blue-grey back, lighter underparts streaked with black bands, and an almost entirely black head with prominent black "moustaches" below the eyes, contrasting with white cheeks and throat. Its wings are long and pointed, and its tail is short. Juveniles have dark brown upperparts and a heavily streaked yellowish-brown chest.
Where does the Peregrine Falcon live?
The Peregrine Falcon is a cosmopolitan species, found on all continents except Antarctica. It primarily nests on rocky cliffs, from coastlines to mountains (up to over 2,000 meters / 6,500 ft in altitude). It also adapts to artificial sites like water towers, power plant chimneys, cathedrals, and quarries. In winter, it frequents plains, attracted by concentrations of birds.
What does the Peregrine Falcon eat?
The Peregrine Falcon is an ornithophagous carnivore, feeding almost exclusively on birds it catches in flight. Its diet is very diverse and includes small to medium-sized birds such as pigeons, gulls, crows, ducks, starlings, thrushes, and blackbirds. Occasionally, it may also catch small mammals (bats, rats, voles, hares) and large insects.
