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© Environment Canada, Canadian
Wildlife Service, Photo: Geoff Holroyd
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Peregrine Falcons are dark coloured crow-sized birds of prey with long
pointed wings that enable rapid flight. They are larger than Merlins
and have more distinctive sideburns than the Prairie Falcon. These sleek
raptors usually nest on cliff ledges and buildings and hunt birds, often
near wetlands.
Length: 41-51 cm (16-20 inches)
Did you know?
- They are the fastest of all raptors and can dive at speeds
of up to 300 km/hr.
- Once gone from the Prairies, their numbers are now steadily
increasing thanks to an intensive re-introduction program. A
ban on the pesticide DDT, which caused their egg-shells to become
thin and break, was critical in recovering populations.
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Contact:
Geoff Holroyd, Research Scientist
Canadian Wildlife Service
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