Orion, Peregrine Falcon
Latin Name
Falco peregrinus
Family
Falconidae
LIFE SPAN
Wild: A peregrine falcon that reaches breeding age has a typical life expectancy of approximately seven years. However, some survive considerably longer. The British Trust for Ornithology records a maximum age of 21 years, 10 months and 24 days for a ringed peregrine in Britain and Ireland.
Captivity: Peregrine falcons can live for approximately 20–25 years when provided with suitable housing, nutrition, exercise and veterinary care. The longest recorded captive lifespan is approximately 25 years.
Body size
Peregrines are large, muscular falcons with broad, pointed wings and relatively short tails. Females are noticeably larger and can be up to 50% heavier than males.
- Weight: Approximately 600–1,300g (1.3–2.9 lb).
- Height/body length: Approximately 39–50cm (15.4–19.7 in).
- Wingspan: Approximately 95–115cm (37–45 in).
Their compact, aerodynamic bodies and pointed wings are specially adapted for speed and manoeuvrability.
Native habitat
Peregrine falcons have one of the widest natural distributions of any bird. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, although they generally avoid dense tropical rainforest and the most extreme polar regions.
They occupy a wide variety of open habitats, including:
- Coastal cliffs and islands
- Mountains and upland valleys
- Grassland and tundra
- Wetlands and river valleys
- Farmland and open countryside
- Towns and cities
Peregrines traditionally nest on high cliff ledges. However, they have adapted remarkably well to urban environments, where cathedrals, tower blocks, bridges, power stations and other tall structures provide artificial alternatives to cliffs.
They do not build conventional nests. Instead, the female creates a shallow depression known as a scrape in loose soil, gravel or other material on a sheltered ledge.
Diet
Peregrine falcons are carnivorous and specialise in hunting other birds. Birds account for approximately 77–99% of their prey.
Their diet can include:
- Pigeons and doves
- Starlings and thrushes
- Waders and shorebirds
- Ducks and other waterfowl
- Gulls
- Small songbirds
They may also occasionally catch bats, small mammals, reptiles and large insects.
Peregrines usually capture birds in flight. They hunt from high perches or circle high above the ground before diving towards their prey in a spectacular high-speed attack known as a stoop. Prey may be struck in mid-air before being caught, carried to a feeding perch and plucked.
Get to know Orion
Orion is something of a lockdown baby. As he met very few people during his early development, he can be shy and nervous around unfamiliar visitors. He is now confidently flying to the lure during demonstrations, although he is most comfortable performing in front of smaller audiences. If the crowd becomes too large, Orion may take one look at everyone, retreat to the safety of a nearby tree and wait patiently for the frightening humans to leave! We therefore carefully manage his demonstrations to ensure he always feels safe and comfortable.
Fun Fact!
The peregrine falcon is considered the fastest animal on Earth. During an ordinary powered flight it travels much more slowly, but when performing a hunting stoop it can exceed 200mph (322km/h).
The fastest recorded dive reached approximately 242mph (389km/h). During a stoop, the peregrine folds its pointed wings close to its body, forming an aerodynamic shape that dramatically reduces air resistance.