adult; no sexual dimorphism (Illinois, USA; 2008-04-24)


Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus

Native Range: Worldwide

Notes: a magnificent top-level predator of open spaces such as cliffs and coastlines; powerful flight; specializes on mid-sized avian prey such as shorebirds, pigeons, and doves; nearly went extinct in North America in the 1960s due to habitat loss and to DDT poisoning that caused its eggs to be thin-shelled and break; populations have partly recovered thanks to heroic efforts of captive breeding and reintroductions; now can be found even in big cities where it nests on window ledges of skyscrapers and feeds mostly on pigeons.


adult; blue-gray back, moustache stripe (California, USA; 2007-11-22)

long pointed wings (California, USA; 2007-11-22)

juvenile; streaked brown underparts (California, USA; 2008-11-28)

juvenile in flight (California, USA; 2008-11-28)

adult with mourning dove (Illinois, USA; 2008-04-24)

juvenile soaring during migration; long pointed wings (Florida, USA; 2011-10-24)

juvenile posing for portrait (California, USA; 2008-11-28)