The Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus has expanded its range and increased in abundance
in South Africa
over the past two decades according to the distribution patterns between SABAP1
and SABAP2. The most interesting changes
are in the Western Cape,
with a three-fold increase in this population since SABAP1.
The Peregrine
Falcon - Falco peregrinus minor - can be found in every
continent of the world excluding Antarctica,
with some sub-species that are resident and with others that are migratory. It is
sparsely and patchily distributed throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and
widespread in Southern Africa. It is
non-migratory and lives mostly along mountain ranges and increasingly in
cities. The name "peregrine" means wanderer.
Description
The male and
female have similar markings and plumage, but the female is up to 30% larger
than the male. The back and the long pointed wings of the adult are usually
bluish black to slate grey with indistinct darker barring and the wingtips are
black. The white to rusty underparts are barred with thin clean bands of dark
brown or black. The tail, coloured like the back but with thin clean bars, is
long, narrow, and rounded at the end with a black tip and a white band at the
very end. The top of the head and a "moustache" along the cheeks are
black, contrasting sharply with the pale sides of the neck and white throat.
The cere is yellow, as are the feet, and the beak is black. The upper beak is
notched near the tip, an adaptation which enables falcons to kill prey by
severing the spinal column at the neck. The immature bird is much browner with
streaked, rather than barred, underparts, and has a pale bluish cere and
orbital ring. Life span in the wild is up to 17 years.
Call
Alarm call a loud
series of harsh "kak, kak, kak.", also whining and chopping notes.
Food
They feed almost
exclusively on medium-sized birds such as feral pigeons, wild pigeons, doves
and waterfowl. Powerful and fast-flying, they catch prey in the air with swift,
spectacular dives, called stoops. They often sit on high perches, waiting for
the right opportunity to make their aerial assault. The Peregrine Falcon hunts
at dawn and dusk, when prey is most active, but also nocturnally in cities.
The peregrine
falcon is well known for its mid-air attacking of other birds, in which it will
climb to a great height and dive to grab the other bird with its claws. During
these dives, the bird can reach a speed of 242 miles per hour, making it the
fastest animal on Earth. To help the bird achieve such high speeds, it has
developed a unique respiratory system. Instead of the typical two-way breathing
systems used by most animals, the peregrine falcon has a one-way system that
allows it to breathe continuously while flying. It still inhales oxygen and
dispels carbon dioxide, but the uniqueness is in the flow since the bird's
breath follows a straight path. The species also has unique nostrils, which are
shaped like a cone. This allows it to better control its air intake and the concept
were recently applied to the design of jet aircraft.
Breeding
Peregrine Falcons
nest on cliffs, tall buildings or tall structures. Males select a few possible nest ledges at the
beginning of each season and the female chooses from these. The birds do no
nest building. Breeding season is from late July to early November. It lays 1
to 4 eggs, which are mainly incubated by the female for between 32 to 36 days,
while the male occasionally incubates in the day but is mostly focused on
providing the female with food. The young are fed mainly by the male and they
take first flight at between 42 to 46 days.
Conservation Status – Least concern
In the USA populations
crashed in 1950-1970 because of DDT poisoning; eastern population extirpated.
It was declared an Endangered Species, and extensive efforts were made to
reestablish birds in East, beginning with the work of Tom Cade in 1970 at the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which eventually developed into the Peregrine Fund.
The species recovered enough to be removed from the Endangered Species List in
1999. Not threatened globally but Near-threatened in South Africa,
probably due to a combination of persecution in city centres, susceptibility to
agrochemicals, nest site disturbance, deforestation and river impoundment.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a custom tour for you to see these charismatic
raptors, or book on one of the following scheduled Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Birding Tour / Safari /Adventure.