adult; no sexual dimorphism (Illinois, USA; 2008-04-24)
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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.
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adult; blue-gray back, moustache stripe (California, USA; 2007-11-22)
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long pointed wings (California, USA; 2007-11-22)
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juvenile; streaked brown underparts (California, USA; 2008-11-28)
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juvenile in flight (California, USA; 2008-11-28)
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adult with mourning dove (Illinois, USA; 2008-04-24)
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juvenile soaring during migration; long pointed wings (Florida, USA; 2011-10-24)
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juvenile posing for portrait (California, USA; 2008-11-28) |
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