Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

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About the Peregrine Falcon

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also referred to simply as the peregrine, is a bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae known for its speed. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts and a black head. As is typical for bird-eating (avivore) raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males. Historically, the bird has also been known as the "black-cheeked falcon" in Australia and the "duck hawk" in North America. The breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Falco peregrinus
Family: Falcons and Caracaras
Order: Falconiformes

Similar species

Other members of the falcons and caracaras family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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