Peregrine Falcon

Habitat: The peregrine falcon strikes its prey in mid-air and is therefore not tied to any particular habitat. It is found on all continents, but avoids extensive woodlands and featureless plains. It prefers areas with a rich bird life, such as river valleys in the steppes and the vicinity of bird colonies. It also breeds high up in church towers in cities with large populations of feral pigeons.

Appearance: A rare but increasing resident or summer or winter visitor throughout Europe. In Belgium and the Netherlands, it is a very rare breeding bird, a year bird, a migrant and a winter visitor in very small to small numbers.

Breeding season: March to July, no nest of its own, often in artificial nests, once in its breeding habitat it remains faithful to it for life, although it may use various breeding sites within it. These are usually in rock faces, but in rockless areas the nests of other birds of prey and church towers may also be used, 3 to 4 eggs.

Characteristics: Length 38 – 45 cm, wingspan 89 – 100 cm, weight 550 – 1300 grams, age 17 years.

Food: It specialises in catching flying birds. It circles at high altitudes. When a bird of suitable size appears in the open sky, it dives down with powerful wing beats, reaching speeds of up to 280 km per hour. It catches the flying bird as if playing, but avoids collision. It usually injures its victim with its talons as it overtakes it, causing a cloud of feathers to swirl around. When the wounded prey then falls to the ground, the falcon lands next to it and bites it to death. Its main prey is determined by what is available, such as gulls, corvids, lapwings, cuckoos, pigeons and starlings. The peregrine falcon catches virtually all medium-sized birds that venture high into the air.