Falcon

Guide Note

Falcons are the swiftest bird of prey and were placed on the endangered species list in the 1970s due to the heavy use of the pesticide DDT. After the ban of this pesticide, falcons made a comeback and were taken off the list in 1999. ¹

Fast Facts

1. 39 species of falcons
2. Peregrines are the largest
3. Peregrines come from the word peregrinus which means "traveler"
4. Females are called falcons, males are tiercels
5. Dive to catch prey at speeds up to 186 MPH
6. Can be found anywhere except for Antarctica
7. Known to live 15 years
8. They were killed during World War II because they were eating carrier pigeons used for sending messages to the troops
9. Falconry uses falcons to hunt gamebirds

Baby Falcons

Called eyasses, baby falcons are born covered in white down. Before coming out of the egg, the peregrine chick tucks its head under its wing. After about 30 days of being incubated in the egg, the chick's hatching muscle contracts, allowing the chick to crack the egg with its beak. Usually by day 33, the chick is completely out of the egg. Their down is replaced by feathers in about five weeks. As babies, they are unable to get their own food so they rely on one of the parent falcons to feed their extremely hungry little bodies. After six days from birth, they double their weight. The babies grow about the size of a crow and females are found to be more powerful than males. ²