1/11/2024 0 Comments Peregrin falcon flyingNew York is living proof of the importance of cities for peregrine falcons. Now, rather than watching wild birds from rocky outcrops, they roost on high-rise window ledges, eyeing well-fed pigeons as they take off from city parks. In fact cities have become an important habitat for these birds, with skyscrapers mimicking the cliff faces that they often roost and nest on. They have also adapted well to urban environments. Peregrine falcons live in a wide variety of landscapes and vegetation types, occurring over much of the world. The black around its eyes doesn't extend far enough to form a hood). Similar species: Australian hobby Falco longipennis (smaller than the peregrine falcon with a light reddish-brown under surface. They are usually seen singly or in pairs (pairs stay together and form a life-long bond). Peregrines give a loud scream or "kee-kee-kee-kee" when communicating with their mate. Peregrines also soar on rising currents of warm air as an energy-efficient way of searching for prey. It flies with a series of shallow wing beats alternating with short glides, but will use deeper wing beats when hunting. The upper legs are covered in barred feathers while the lower legs and feet are yellow. The back and wings are slate-blue with darker barring (from underneath the wings and tail are tipped in black). The chin and throat are white or yellowy-cream and the chest and under surface are flecked with black. The head and cheeks are covered in a black hood with yellow skin around the eye and on the cere (skin at base of beak covering nostrils). They have a distinct, heavyset chest (big pectoral muscles for flight) and broad-based wings with each ending in a pointed tip. Peregrines have a body length of 35-50 cm and an 80-105 cm wingspan, with the females being slightly larger than the males. The peregrine falcon is listed as Least Concern in Queensland ( Nature Conservation Act 1992). To watch a peregrine falcon hunting - and catching its prey - is to see the result of millions of years of evolutionary fine-tuning driven by the need for a predator to catch its prey. And if the impact of being hit by a swooping falcon doesn't kill a bird instantly, it has a sharp, notched upper bill that can quickly sever a bird's spine. For catching its prey it is equipped with large feet and sharp talons (claws). Deep chest (pectoral) muscles power their finely tapered wings giving the peregrine both the aerial speed and manoeuvrability it needs to pursue and overtake other birds in flight. With its forward-facing eyes, glare-reducing black face, the ability to rapidly focus on an object while in flight and strong (full colour) binocular vision eight times better than our own, these birds can see their prey from a distance of more than three kilometres. Peregrine falcons are not only the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds of up to 180km per hour (some estimates even have them flying at much greater speeds) but they are also one of the most agile aerial hunters.
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