Where does the peregrine bird live? Peregrine falcon. place. Black swift

The peregrine falcon bird is common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. It is the size of but there are also quite large individuals. Let us further consider what this feathered representative of the fauna is known for.

Sapsan: description

It is distinguished by slate-gray dark plumage on its back and a light mottled belly. The top of the head is black. There are 17 subspecies of birds in total. They differ in color and size. The speed of the peregrine falcon at its peak is more than 322 km/h. However, in horizontal movement it is inferior to the swift. Many people think it is an eagle. The peregrine falcon belongs to a different family. At 2 years of age, puberty begins. The created pairs remain throughout life. The peregrine falcon nests on the tops of ridges, rocky cliffs, in rare cases - on stone structures (ledges and roofs of high-rise buildings, bridges, bell towers, etc.) and hummocks in moss swamps.

Hunting

The peregrine falcon is an animal that glides in the sky or sits on a perch in search of prey. When it detects a victim, it rises above it and dives down. The peregrine falcon's flight is so fast that the prey does not have time to escape. When it overtakes the victim, it hits it tangentially with folded paws pressed to the body. The peregrine falcon strikes its prey so hard with its claws that even a large game's head can be torn off. The predator usually hunts starlings, ducks, and pigeons. Its victims are mainly medium-sized birds of aquatic or semi-aquatic species. Rarely are its prey small mammals.

Population

The peregrine falcon bird is considered a rare species today. After World War II ended, its already small population began to decline sharply. This was largely due to economic use DDT and other pesticides that adversely affected embryonic development. In particular, from 1940 to the mid-1960s, the population completely disappeared in the eastern part of the United States, and in the west it decreased by 80-90%. The same situation was observed in Western European territory. They stopped settling altogether over a large area. By the 1970s, due to the fact that the use of pesticides was prohibited, as well as through introduction, the bird population began to gradually recover. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation as small in number and is included in the second category. The CITES Annex prohibits the sale of these birds worldwide.

External features

The peregrine falcon is considered a large bird. Its body is 34-50 cm long. Its wingspan reaches 80-120 cm. Females are larger in appearance than males. They weigh approximately 910-1500 grams. Males are about a third smaller. Their weight is 440-750 grams. not expressed in color. The exception is F. p. madens (rare subspecies), in which females and males look alike. In general, the physique of birds is quite strong, which is typical for active predators. They have a wide chest with prominent and hard muscles, strong fingers, the nails of which are sharply bent. The beak is short, sickle-shaped. In adult individuals, indistinct transverse dark stripes are present on the upper part of the body. The tips of the peregrine falcon's wings are black. The abdomen is usually light. Depending on its habitat, it can be pinkish, grayish-white, ocher or reddish with black and thin brown transverse streaks. They are also present on the undertail and sides. The streaks that are on the chest are in the form of drops. The tail is narrow and long, rounded at the end. The upper part of the head and the section of feathers between the corner of the beak and the throat are black. And the lower part and the throat itself are light - reddish or white. The peregrine falcon's eyes are protruding and large, dark brown. They are surrounded by a ring of bare skin. The legs and beak are black, the wax is yellow. There are teeth at the end of the beak. With them the peregrine falcon bites the neck of its prey. The inner finger is longer than the outer one, and the middle one is longer than the tarsus. Juveniles have less contrasting plumage. The upper part of their body is brown with buffy edges of the coverts, and the upper part is lighter. The cere has a bluish-gray tint. The birds' legs are yellow.

Voice

The cry of the peregrine falcon is varied. To attract attention and communicate, he makes abrupt sounds “keeek-keeek-keeek” or “kyak-kyak-kyak”. When anxious, vocalizations are harsh and rapid. He makes "cra-cra-cra" sounds. IN mating season the female and the male can communicate with loud two-syllable “ee-chip” calls. The rest of the time they are usually silent.

Area

The peregrine falcon, as a rule, tries to choose places that are inaccessible to people. He prefers to stay on the rocky shores of various bodies of water (external and internal). The largest number of birds is observed in the mountains and river valleys. In these places the conditions for nesting are the most optimal. In the mountains, the peregrine falcon usually settles on rocks. In the zone forest area it can be found along river cliffs, on large or on treetops, where it occupies old nests of other birds. No matter what territory the peregrine falcon chooses, there is always a wetland nearby. Its area is not less than 10 square meters. m. The peregrine falcon tries not to nest in areas of dark continuous forest, as well as in large treeless spaces. Sometimes (rarely during recent years) he chooses populated areas, including large ones, as his habitat. For example, it was found that in Losin Island The peregrine falcon settled in Moscow every year from 1927 to 1941, and then in 1963. Within the city, it makes nests on the roofs of high-rise buildings, churches and other structures. As of 2008, it was established that the only pair of birds nests in the main building of Moscow State University.

Lifestyle

He is predominantly sedentary. Sometimes in cold weather they move a short distance. Males that have reached maturity try to stay as close to the nesting territory as possible throughout the year. In subarctic and arctic climates, the peregrine falcon makes seasonal migrations over considerable distances. According to the observations of ornithologists, individuals nesting in Greenland can reach the southern territories of the South American continent in winter. In Russia, the peregrine falcon does not nest only in steppe territories Western Siberia and Volga region. It can be found there during seasonal migration.

Nutritional Features

The peregrine falcon eats only small and medium-sized birds: sparrows, ducks, starlings, thrushes and others. In general, he is not characterized by attachment to certain species. Its diet varies depending on the availability that is characteristic of a particular territory. In addition to birds, its prey is sometimes small mammals, for example, hares and squirrels, the bats. It also feeds on insects and amphibians. The tundra (Siberian) peregrine falcon regularly hunts voles, ground squirrels, and lemmings. In some cases, they make up up to a third of his diet. The greatest activity of the peregrine falcon is observed in the mornings and evenings. Prey is predominantly captured during movement. At the same time, birds often hunt in pairs, going down to the prey one by one.

Specifics of the attack

Having noticed prey, the peregrine falcon flies up very quickly and high. Then it folds its wings and descends sharply almost at a right angle. He tries to touch the victim casually with his paws. The impact may cause the head to fly off or the belly of the prey to rip open. If it is not strong enough, the peregrine falcon finishes off the victim by gnawing the neck. With the prey, he rises to a height where he eats it. Unlike other predators, the peregrine falcon leaves the head intact, as well as the wings and, in some cases, the legs of the victim.

Conclusion

As was said above, the peregrine falcon has always been considered rare bird, despite the fact that it adapts quite well to different climatic and landscape conditions. Currently, its population remains generally stable. In some regions, however, slight fluctuations in numbers or complete disappearance of the species from its range are observed. A danger to the development of the peregrine falcon and maintaining the population at a stable level, in addition to chemicals, is the competition with the saker falcon. Besides, negative factors considered: lack of territories suitable for nesting, poaching, cultural landscape changes. Wild predators that destroy nests may also cause some disturbance. These primarily include martens, foxes, and eagle owls. Peregrine falcons feel good in areas located near human habitation. However, they may experience discomfort from excessive human attention.

The peregrine falcon is a large falcon with a body length of 34 to 50 cm, a wingspan of 80 to 120 cm. Females are larger than males: their weight is from 910 to 1500 g, and males are usually a third less, their weight is from 440 to 750 g. The plumage color of males and females is the same.

The bird is distinguished by its robust build with a broad chest, strong fingers with sharp curved claws, and a short, sickle-shaped beak. The plumage of adult birds on the back, wings and rump is slate-gray, with dark transverse stripes. The tips of the wings are painted black. The belly is light: from grayish-white, pinkish to reddish or ocher tones, with brown or black thin transverse streaks. The breast is decorated with teardrop-shaped streaks. The tail is long and narrow, rounded at the end. The bottom of the tail is black with a white edge. The head is black on top, black “whiskers” stretch from the corner of the beak to the throat, the throat is light, white or reddish. The eyes are large, dark brown, with a yellow eye ring. The cere is yellow, the beak and paws are black. At the end of the beak there are teeth designed to bite the spine of the victim.

Juveniles have contrasting plumage. They have a brown back with buffy edges of coverts, a light belly with longitudinal streaks. The cere is bluish-gray, the paws are yellow.

The peregrine falcon hunts birds of medium and small size: sparrows, thrushes, starlings, pigeons, ducks. Mainly, on those bird species that are common in its habitat. In addition to birds, the peregrine falcon's diet includes small mammals such as bats, squirrels and hares, as well as amphibians and insects. The Siberian subspecies of peregrine falcon eats lemmings, gophers, and voles.

Peregrine falcons hunt in the morning and evening, often in pairs. Prey is caught on the fly. The peregrine falcon can lie in ambush for a long time, sit on a high ledge, or fly low above the ground to scare off the prey. Having spotted prey in the air, the bird quickly gains altitude, folds its wings and dives sharply vertically downwards. During such a flight, the peregrine falcon's speed reaches 322 km/h, or 90 m/s, thanks to which this bird has earned the title of the fastest living organism in the world. The impact on the victim can be so strong that the victim’s head flies off or the body is torn apart along its entire length. If the force of the blow does not kill the victim, then the falcon breaks its neck with its beak. With the food it has obtained, the peregrine falcon rises to a height where it eats it.

Bird distribution

The peregrine falcon is a cosmopolitan bird, widespread on all continents (except Antarctica) and on the islands. Unpretentious to its living conditions, the peregrine falcon easily masters both the Arctic tundra and the hot tropics. In general, the bird is found almost everywhere, except in polar and high mountain regions, steppes, deserts and humid tropical forests. In the mountains, peregrine falcons live at altitudes up to 4000 m above sea level.

To live, peregrine falcons prefer areas inaccessible to humans with a wide horizon and proximity to water, for example, rocky shores reservoirs, valleys mountain rivers. Occasionally, peregrine falcons live in populated areas.

The majority of the population leads a sedentary lifestyle, or migrates nearby for the winter. Only birds living in arctic and subarctic climates make long migrations.

Common Peregrine Falcon Species

Subspecies Falco peregrinus peregrinus Tunstall

Distributed in temperate zone Eurasia. Leads a sedentary lifestyle. Weight of males 580-750 g, females 925-1300 g

Subspecies Falco peregrinus calidus Latham

Known as the tundra falcon, or white-cheeked falcon, which lives in the Eurasian tundra and on the North Islands Arctic Ocean. Migratory subspecies, flies to East Coast Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas, in Central Asia. The color is generally lighter, especially in the head area; there are no red tones in the plumage. The weight of males is 588-740 g, females 925-1333 g.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus japonensis Gmelin 1788

Lives in the northeast of Siberia, Kamchatka and Japanese islands. Outwardly it resembles the subspecies peregrinus, but young individuals are noticeably darker.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus brookei Sharpe

Also known as the "Maltese falcon". Distributed in the Mediterranean, the Iberian Peninsula, North-West Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus and south coast Crimea. Resident bird. The size is small, the belly has a red tint. The weight of males is up to 445 g, females - up to 920 g.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides Temminck

Occupant Canary Islands, North Africa and the Middle East. The plumage is light on top, the neck is red, the belly is sandy with pale stripes. The weight of males is from 330 to 400 g, females from 513 to 765 g.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus peregrinator Sundevall 1837

The subspecies is found in southern Asia (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, China). resident bird small size, painted in dark colors. The belly is red with light stripes.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus madens Ripley & Watson

Lives on the Cape Verde Islands and differs from other peregrine falcons by the presence of sexual dimorphism in color: males have reddish streaks on the head, back of the head, ears and back, and on the tummy they are pinkish-brown; females are uniformly brown. The subspecies is on the verge of extinction.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus macropus

Habitat of the subspecies – South Africa, where he leads a sedentary life. It is distinguished by its small size and dark plumage color.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus macropus Swainson

A sedentary species found only in Australia. It is similar in appearance to the brookei subspecies, but is smaller in size and has a patch of black feathers in the ear area.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus ernesti Sharpe

Lives on the islands Pacific Ocean south from Indonesia and the Philippines and north from New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Resident bird. She has clear dark stripes on her belly and black feathers around her ears.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus furuitii Momiyama

A very rare resident of the Bonin Islands and Izu Islands (Japan). Sedentary subspecies. The plumage is dark, similar to pealei.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus nesiotes Mayr

Breeds on the Fiji Islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Leads a sedentary lifestyle.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte

Found only in North America. Sedentary and rare view. It is small in size, the weight of males is 500-570 g, females - up to 960 g. Adults are light and less variegated on the belly, and young ones are dark and with pronounced stripes.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus pealei Ridgway

Known as the Aleutian, or black falcon, lives on the Pacific coast North America. Less common in Kamchatka and Kuril Islands. Does not migrate. The largest subspecies with pronounced stripes on the belly. The beak is wide. In young individuals it is light top part heads.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus tudrius White

Habitat – arctic tundra North America and Greenland. A migratory subspecies that migrates to Central and South America in winter. A small and light bird with a pure white forehead and ears, and dark top part heads and mustaches. Juveniles are brown.

Subspecies Falco peregrinus cassini Sharpe

Distributed in South America(Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile islands Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands). Distinguished by a patch of black feathers on the ears.

The main manifestation of sexual dimorphism in the peregrine falcon is big sizes females compared to males, the plumage color of most subspecies is the same.

Peregrine falcons reach sexual maturity at the age of 1 year, but begin breeding at the age of two or three years. Peregrine falcons are monogamous birds, maintaining their pairs for long years. Peregrine falcons also become attached to the nesting territory.

The mating season begins for peregrine falcons in April-June, later for northern populations. The male is the first to arrive at the nesting site and begins to call the female, performing aerial pirouettes: spinning, diving, tumbling. If the female sits nearby, a pair is formed. In this case, peregrine falcons sit side by side for a long time, look at each other, and preen their feathers. The male often feeds the female.

During the nesting period, peregrine falcons are very aggressive towards strangers, be they birds, animals or people. Their neighboring nests are located at a distance of 2 to 6 km.

Peregrine falcons build a nest near a pond, or occupy old nests of other birds of prey. As a nest, a hole is dug in the ground or an area is cleared. There is no bedding. Around the peregrine falcon's nest always accumulates a large number of bone remains of prey, and traces of chick droppings.

Egg laying occurs in late April or early May. The female lays three eggs every 48 hours. The eggs are bright, brownish or red with dark reddish-brown spots. The incubation period lasts from 33 to 35 days, and both partners take part in it, although most The female spends time in the nest.

Newborn chicks are covered in gray-white down, have large feet, and are helpless. The female feeds and warms the offspring, and the male is engaged in obtaining food for the family. The chicks begin to fledge at the age of 35 to 45 days, but continue to depend on their parents for several more weeks until they learn to get their own food. Young peregrine falcons leave the nest around the end of June.

Peregrine falcon voice

Peregrine Falcons are fairly silent birds. Their voice - a loud, sharp, abrupt cry of “kyak-kyak” or “keeek-keeek” - is heard during the mating season, when the birds use it to communicate and attract the attention of females. When restless, the peregrine falcon makes a rough, quick “cra-cra” sound. During courtship, birds make loud "ee-chip" sounds.

• Sapsan is the most fast bird in the world. In a diving flight, it reaches a speed of about 322 km/h, or 90 m/s
• In 1530, Emperor Charles V gave the island of Malta to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Malta), and obliged the knights to send him one peregrine falcon every year. This story is described in the novel by English writer Dashiell Hammett “The Maltese Falcon” (1930). And in the USA in 1941 a film was made based on this book. One of the subspecies of peregrine falcons is called “Maltese”.
• Peregrine falcons have always been considered a rare bird. Due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, the population began to decline, but has slowly recovered since the 1970s. The peregrine falcon is included in the Red Book of Russia, and trade in these birds is prohibited throughout the world.

Peregrine falcon - listed in the Red Book Krasnodar region. The Red Book was created to attract public attention and the animal species listed in it are in danger. Some are on the verge of possible extinction, others are almost extinct. Unfortunately, millions of animal species have already left the planet forever since the planet appeared. They died out according to various reasons. But now human influence has increased so much that it directly or indirectly affects almost all species of animals or birds. That's why environmentalists talk about the Red Book, trying to appeal to the public's attention. If it is humanly possible to harm nature, then it is quite possible to help it recover.

Feathered predator

The peregrine falcon is considered a bird of prey and belongs to the order Falconidae. The length of its body is up to 40-50 cm, and its weight is up to 1.4 kg with an average wingspan of 120 cm. Its wings are narrow, sickle-shaped. Females are much smaller in appearance than males. The plumage is dark gray, several stripes, the lower part of the body is more motley. The beak has sharp teeth, a feature observed in many species of falcons.

Habitat - in principle, it is quite common; the peregrine falcon can be found in any corner of the Earth, except Antarctica. The falcon tolerates both cold and heat well, it is unpretentious in food, the only thing is that it does not tolerate very hot or too cold places. Therefore, it is not found in the Sahara or the Arctic. Also, birds don’t like excessive humidity either.

The peregrine falcon comes in several subspecies, distinguished by their lifestyle. Some wander, others, on the contrary, love settled life, still others migrate in the off-season. However, only those who live in the cold Arctic migrate. Moreover, biologists note that the falcon can fly great distances. For example, individuals can nest in areas of Greenland, then fly to South America for the winter.
The peregrine falcon is considered a noble bird with a beautiful profile. For example, the peregrine falcon does not catch flying prey when it is sitting on the ground. He flies up, deliberately noisy and noticeable, so that the birds take off. Then he figures it out in the air. It is interesting that many pilots adhered to a similar code of honor during the war. They never hit an opponent on the ground. True, biologists doubt that the peregrine falcon’s habit of hunting only in the air is a sign of nobility.

Yes, it flies slower than many bird species and is not as hardy. Therefore, the falcon hunts in its own way. He needs to rise above the flock of prey, then fold his wings and fall down like a stone at the desired angle. A swift blow and the victim falls. It's almost impossible to dodge. The peregrine falcon flies up to 389 km/h when it falls vertically onto its prey.

Squad - Predator birds

Family - Falcons

Genus/Species - Falco peregrinus

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 40-50 cm.

Wingspan: 92-110 cm.

Weight: male 600-750 g, female 900-1300 g.

REPRODUCTION

Puberty: from 3 years old.

Nesting period: March-May, depends on the region.

Masonry: once a year.

Masonry size: 2-4 eggs.

Incubation: 30-35 days.

Feeding chicks: 35-42 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: peregrine falcons stay in pairs.

Food: mostly other birds.

Lifespan: up to 20 years.

RELATED SPECIES

Subspecies differ in size. The largest subspecies of the peregrine falcon live in the Arctic, the smallest - in deserts.

Peregrine falcon hunting. Video (00:02:03)

Falcon hunting

The peregrine falcon (see photo) is one of the most clever hunters among the birds. For this reason, he has long been pursued by falconers who devastated the nests of the peregrine falcon. As a result, its population declined sharply.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

The peregrine falcon's favorite hunting place is open areas, such as peat bogs, steppes and semi-deserts. In Central Europe, the peregrine falcon inhabits mainly mountainous areas. It makes nests on steep rock walls in river valleys or in old quarries. IN winter time The peregrine falcon settles near large bodies of water, where it hunts the birds that live there -. The specific name of the peregrine falcon is translated from Latin as “wanderer” or “pilgrim.” The peregrine falcon can also be seen during its journey to and from its wintering grounds, near lakes and estuaries. In Central Europe, only young peregrine falcons are migratory, while older ones are sedentary. Birds from the northern regions migrate long distances.

Peregrine falcon and man

Feathered predators such as the peregrine falcon are at the top of the food chain. It was proven that along the food chain (insects - small birds - raptors), the toxic components of DDT and other pesticides accumulated in the peregrine falcon’s body, affecting its reproductive system (the proportion of fertilized eggs fell) and calcium metabolism (the eggshells became thinner and cracked). This caused a decline in the peregrine falcon population. Measures taken in the 60-70s of the last century to preserve birds of prey and the ban on the use of DDT had a positive effect on its population.

The peregrine falcon has long been domesticated for use as a hunting bird in falconry. Not all birds of the falcon family can be taught to hunt. certain types animals. For example, it got its name back when falcons were assessed only by whether they were suitable for hunting.

REPRODUCTION

Peregrine falcons mate for life. As a rule, they nest on hard-to-reach rock ledges or rock ledges. The nest is quite spacious, it can accommodate parents and chicks, and it is reliably protected from predators. These falcons do not build nests; on the ground they lay eggs in shallow holes scratched with their claws, and in the trees they occupy the nests of other birds. Females begin laying eggs at the end of March. Most often they lay 2-4 red-brown eggs with red dots. Hatching begins only when all the eggs have been laid. Both parents take care of the chicks.

FOOD AND HUNTING

The peregrine falcon feeds mainly on birds. In winter, these birds inhabit areas around river mouths and hunt mainly for gulls and. The peregrine falcon catches most of its victims in the air. Noticing the prey, it makes a sharp acceleration and, in a diving flight, rushes at the prey, grabbing it by the neck, crushing the cervical vertebrae. With small prey he flies to the nest, and kills large birds in the air and lowers them to the ground. The peregrine falcon eats about 100 g of food per day. During the period of raising and feeding the chicks, its needs increase. The falcon's hunting territory ranges from 40 to 200 km 2 . Peregrine falcons very rarely hunt mammals, however, even rabbits sometimes become their victims.

Peregrine Falcon Observations

The best time to observe the peregrine falcon is during nesting season. At this time, the birds do not fly far from the nest. Falcons circle high in the sky, sometimes quickly flapping their wings, sometimes soaring in smooth flight. In size, peregrine falcons are somewhat larger than domestic pigeons. This bird is easy to distinguish in flight by strong body, long pointed wings and a relatively short tail. At other times, peregrine falcons can be observed near river mouths or other large bodies of water, where they hunt ducks and other birds. A definite sign of the presence of a peregrine falcon is alarming voices and rapid, unexpected takeoffs of birds frightened by this falcon.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Sung in Ukrainian and Russian songs, the real falcon, which is often also called the “peregrine falcon,” lives in many areas globe. It can be found from the polar cliffs of Scandinavia and Taimyr in the north to the fjords of Tierra del Fuego in the south. Falcons make nests on the eaves of cliffs or in abandoned nests of ravens and. They feed mainly on birds (waders, crows, gulls, mallards and ducks, less often - geese), which they catch on the fly. In pursuit of prey, a peregrine falcon can reach enormous speeds during a dive! The maximum recorded speed of a peregrine falcon at its peak is 389 km/h! Not every plane flies at such speed! This record was recorded in 2005.

Human persecution and excessive use of pesticides in agriculture led to the fact that this beautiful bird became rare everywhere or completely disappeared. Only the peregrine falcons of the Arctic were lucky. In the North, the falcon is called the goose shepherd, and for good reason: wild geese willingly settle next to its nests. After all, on earth it doesn’t hurt anyone. But in the sky no one can withstand the insane attacks of falcons!

• During World War II, peregrine falcons were killed because they preyed on carrier pigeons that carried war messages.
• The male peregrine falcon is almost a third smaller than a female In addition, it is distinguished by dark plumage on the top of its head, on the sides of which dark “whiskers” clearly stand out.
• This falcon big eyes and sharp vision. A peregrine falcon can recognize its prey even from a height of 300 meters.
• Peregrine falcons have long been used for hunting. Nowadays, falcon hunting is only a sport.
• The peregrine falcon is in danger of extinction. The population of these birds is steadily decreasing.

MATING FLIGHT OF THE PEREGIAN FALCON

In the first part of the mating flight, the peregrine falcon transfers prey to the female. At this time, the female flies downwards with her ridge and takes prey from the claws of the male.

- Where does the peregrine falcon live permanently?
- Wintering places
- Nesting sites

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

The distribution area is significant: from the Arctic to South Asia and Australia, from western Greenland to almost all of North America.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

Pairs nesting in hazardous areas are protected. There are approximately 5,000 bred pairs living in Europe today.

Peregrine falcon. Video (00:02:23)

The peregrine falcon hunts with the speed of lightning: having spotted its prey while slowly soaring, it builds itself directly above it and quickly, at an almost vertical angle, falls on top of it. A strong blow often causes the unfortunate victim's head to fall off. If she managed to stay on her shoulders, the bird of prey breaks the poor fellow’s neck with its beak or uses its sharp claws.

Falconry with a peregrine falcon. Video (00:03:22)

Falconry, birds of prey - in this video you can see how a hunter catches game with the help of a falcon, or rather, the falcon catches for its owner.

Peregrine falcon. The fastest bird in the world. Video (00:03:53)

The fastest animal on Earth is the Peregrine falcon. In a dive, it reaches an incredible speed of 90 m/s (over 320 km/h). In 2005, a record was registered - a peregrine falcon diving at a speed of 389 km/h. It falls on the victim from the sky and knocks it down with a blow of its clawed paws. The blow is so strong that the victim's head is often torn off.
The peregrine falcon is a large falcon and in its group it is second in size only. The dimensions of one wing are from 30 to 40 cm, the wingspan reaches 120 cm. The total length of the bird is from 40 to 50 cm, its weight is up to 1200 g.
It is worth noting that the peregrine falcon has the most sharp vision in the world.

The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the entire universe; there are more than 17 subspecies.

It has no equal among feathered predators and is distributed in all corners of our Planet except Antarctica.

The female is larger than the male, body length from 42 to 55 cm, wingspan varies from 93 to 115 cm, total weight females reach up to 1300, and males up to 600 grams.

Its back is covered with slate-gray plumage, a mottled and white belly, its head and mustache are black. On his paws yellow color there are dark claws that resemble the shape of hooks.

The beak is short, there are two nostrils on it, the eyes are large, and around the perimeter they are surrounded by a yellowish line of 1.2 mm. Vision is clear, capable of detecting prey at a distance of more than 1.5 km.

The tail is narrow, of decent size, slate-gray in color and curved at the end. The bottom of the tail is dark in color with a small light stripe at its end.

The peregrine falcon's flight speed can reach more than 325 km/h, that’s almost 100 meters per second.

The distribution area of ​​this species is extensive; as we wrote earlier, it does not live only in the Arctic. However, in other places it lives everywhere.

So, let's make the situation a little more specific and provide some scientific data for a clearer picture. This bird lives from the Arctic to South Asia and Australia, from western Greenland through almost all of North America.

This formidable predator prefers to inhabit territories inaccessible to humans, where there are peat bogs, steppes and semi-deserts. IN central Europe he lives in mountainous hills. Nests on steep cliffs, along rivers and in old quarries.

They can also settle on tall trees occupying other people's nests, since he is by nature unsuited to making his own. They try to avoid those areas where dense and tall vegetation grows.

Sometimes, no matter how strange it may sound, a peregrine falcon can nest in populated areas or cities. The birds occupy nests of other species, which are located on the roofs of sanctuaries and other buildings covered with stone structures.

In the winter season, it can migrate to areas where there are bodies of water: rivers, lakes, and hunts other birds. It can be found during seasonal infrequent migrations; adult individuals lead a sedentary lifestyle, and the younger generation constantly travels vast distances.

The peregrine falcon creates a pair for life; they choose their nesting place in hard-to-reach places, such as:

• Rock cornices;
• Tall trees;
• Roofs of houses or churches;

Also, they are very attached to the same nesting place; every year one and the same pair tries to occupy exactly the same habitat that they occupied the year before.

There is enough space in the habitat to accommodate chicks and two adults, and it is also reliably protected from enemies and predators.

The body of males is ready for fertilization a year after birth, but they take part in reproduction at 1.5 or 2 years of age.

The breeding season begins in May and continues until June; in the northern regions it begins later. The male first flies to the place of residence. Seducing the female, he invents various pirouettes in the air, acrobatic actions in the form of a spiral, or clearly goes into a dive etc.

If the female is pleased with her chosen one, she sits down next to him at a short distance, which means that a couple has formed. Sitting next to each other, they mutually preen each other's feathers and gnaw on their claws.

During courtship in the air, the male often fertilizes his chosen one with caught prey. To accept the gift, the female turns over with her back down while flying, and the male at this moment hands her the caught trophy.

These birds do not settle next to other pairs; the distance between neighbors must be at least 1200 meters, but the maximum distance between them can reach up to 2.6 km. This is due to the fact that this distance is enough to feed oneself without disturbing territorial integrity their relatives.

This occupied area can contain up to 10 places where a pair can lay eggs, each new season they may occupy one of the mentioned places. Predatory bird The peregrine falcon carefully guards the territory entrusted to it; if someone dares to disturb their nesting place, they can attack more powerful birds, such as:

• Voronov;
• Orlov;

If the birds notice people, they begin to show concern already at a distance of 350 - 500 meters from the home, which is accompanied by loud and shrill sounds typical of falcon species.

First, the male circles above the people, later the female joins him, so as not to lose sight of them, from time to time they sit down next to them.

The location of the dwelling directly depends on the landscape, but in one case or another, the approach to it must be accessible and convenient. There must be a pond or river near the nesting site.

If it is a rocky area, then look for crevices or a place on a slope ledge where a dwelling can be located at a height at least 30 to 85 meters. Not often, but it happens when peregrine falcons occupy the nests of other birds, such as:

• Kite;
• Osprey;
• Crow;
• Buzzard;
• Goshawk;

The floor in their home is not specially covered, but with repeated use it contains old feathers and bones of past victims. One of the features of this bird is a huge accumulation of bone debris around the perimeter of the nest, which accumulates over many years, as well as droppings left by the younger generation.

The female lays eggs once a year, within forty-eight hours one egg appears; if for some reason she is destroyed, she will lay eggs a second time. Most often the clutch contains 2 or 3, less often from 2 to 5 eggs of a rusty-red color and with brown specks.

It has dimensions 52-53X42-44 mm. For 35 days, the female and the male will incubate them, but more often the female incubates them, since the male forages at this time.

Afterwards the chicks begin to hatch; at first they are helpless. For the first days of their life, their body is covered with dirty light down, the limbs are disproportionate and very developed. The mother of the chicks carefully warms them and feeds them.

The head of the family spends most of his time hunting, because the need for food increases more and more every day. It is capable of flying from 22 to 45 kilometers in search of prey.

After 45 days, the chicks will make their first flight from family nest, however, they will remain with their parents for some time, since at this age they are too young and do not have hunting skills, unlike their parents.

Nutrition

As you already know, the peregrine falcon is the fastest bird and it hunts exclusively on its own kind. Their diet is very varied, let's briefly look at its daily menu in the list:

The bird bends its sickle-shaped wings and flies as if into an abyss. Finding itself in such a situation, the victim has no chance to escape; the peregrine falcon hits her with such force that the bird’s head can fly off and its body rip open, but if it remains alive, it breaks its neck with its powerful beak.

IN wildlife this bird can live up to 25 years.

Couples who live in unsafe areas are strictly protected by law. Total birds of this species permanently residing in the territory European countries, is no more than 5000 brood pairs.

• During the Second World War, this bird was destroyed by soldiers because it caught carrier pigeons.
• The male is one third smaller than the female.
• In the near future it faces complete or partial extinction.
• It has very clear vision and is able to recognize prey at an altitude of more than 310 meters.
• Peregrine falcons were often used for hunting, as well as.
• Nowadays falconry is only a sport.