1. They are super speedy
Peregrine Falcons can achieve reported speeds of over 200 miles per hour when catching prey mid-air…
2. They smell funny
To ensure they can still breathe when travelling so fast, Peregrines control the flow of incoming air with tiny cone-shaped bones, called baffles, that protrude from their nostrils.
3. They like to stargaze
Many peregrine nests are uncovered, usually placed on cliff ledges, tall buildings or quarry sites – anywhere up high, with a good view of the stars!
4. They are true romantics
Peregrines spend February – Valentine’s month – looking for their perfect partner. This is also when the birds are noisiest, as the males try to impress the females with stunning aerial displays and loud courting calls.
5. Females are boss
Female peregrines are considerably larger then the males, they have longer wings and can weigh almost twice as much!
6. No-one stoops as low…
…as a Peregrine diving to catch their prey. These dives, known as stoops, are almost vertical and are so fast that often just the force of the claws hitting the prey kills it instantly.
7. They aren’t fussy eaters
Our Peregrine expert Nick Dixon reports that he has found over 100 different species of birds within the remains of Peregrine meals, including pigeons, gulls, owls and ducks!
8. They get around
Peregrine Falcons can be found on every continent in the world (except Antarctica, because they aren’t daft, brrr!).
9. It’s good to hawk
Lovers of high nesting places, Peregrines not only reside on tall buildings and high roofs, they also like to nest on phone masts. Sometimes, this can damage the phone service, but as they are a protected species the mast cannot be worked on until the chicks have hatched and moved on….up to three months later! To be fair, would you want to ask this to move…
*gulp*