Peregrine Falcon

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Peregrine Falcon is a large, stocky falcon, with a relatively short tail. It has a prominent moustache usually evident in all ages. Plumage colour is rather variable, with upperparts in various tones of blue, grey or black; underparts are white to rufous, crossed with variable bars. Legs and feet are bright yellow. The bill is slate-blue and black tipped. There's a noticeable size dimorphism, with females being 15-20 % larger than males. Juveniles have upperparts with tones of black to pale brown; underparts are streaked.

Did you know?
that, in the 1940s, peregrine falcons started suffering significant declines due to indiscriminate use of the pesticide DDT. After several years scientists found unusually high concentrations of the pesticide DDT and its breakdown product DDE in peregrine falcons and other birds of prey. The peregrines accumulated DDT in their tissues by feeding on birds that had eaten DDT-contaminated insects or seeds. The toxic chemical interfered with eggshell formation by interrupting the calcium metabolism. As a result, falcons laid eggs with shells so thin they often broke during incubation or otherwise failed to hatch. Because too few young were raised to replace adults that died, peregrine populations declined precipitously.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	FALCONIFORMES
Suborder	FALCONES
Family	FALCONIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Falco peregrinus
Name (English)	Peregrine Falcon
Name (French)	Faucon pêlerin
Name (German)	Wanderfalke
Name (Spanish)	Halcón Peregrino
Local names	Afrikaans: Slegvalk Italian: Pellegrino Romansh: Falcun pelegrin Swedish: Pilgrimsfalk
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix II (as Falconidae spp.)

Photo Copyright by
Valerie Abbott

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Almost cosmopolitan. With the exception of Antarctica, New Zealand, and Iceland, the peregrine is found around the globe.
Habitat	Extremely variable: it breeds from hot tropics to cold, wet marine habitat; arid hot or cold deserts; from sea-level to c. 4000 m. Found almost anywhere during migration, even landing on ships in the Central Pacific Ocean. There are unexpected gaps in the breeding distribution, e.g. Iceland, Newfoundland, tropical Central and South America, and New Zealand.
Wild population	Not globally threatened. Serious population declines occurred from mid-1960's to the mid-1970's, as a result of eggshell breakage, mortality of embryos and some mortality of adults from chlorinated hydrocarbon (DDT) contaminations. These chemicals were banned in most countries, and numbers currently returning, or have already returned, to pre-chemical levels.
Zoo population	113 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Untrained birds travel better in completely dark boxes, with a carpeted floor and roof, with an upwards sliding door at one end and no perch. As a general rule, trained birds are easier to manage in boxes with a carpeted perch at the right height to give plenty of head and tail room, and with a hinged side opening door.

For air transport, Container Note 20 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Valerie Abbott

Why do zoos keep this animal

In a few cases, pergerines are kept with a view of providing offspring to reintroduction projects. Most peregrines are, however, kept for educational reasons. This makes sense in particular if the birds are displayed in commented free flight demonstrations.

It may also be that zoos accept to care for injured birds, which cannot be returned to the wild.

How this animal should be kept

Separate enclosures are required for each potential pair. For a pair of peregrines an aviary of at least 10 m², 2.5 m high, is required. As raptors are more settled when given the elevation to get above the watching public, exhibit aviaries should rather be higher than 2.5 m. At least one side, and preferably two sides of the aviary should be secluded or of a solid material. This allows for keepers to approach for management purposes without birds seeing them. Aviary access and the ability to clean enclosures with the minimum of disturbance are best from a darkened service passage. Also the public should be kept at least 1 m away from the aviary by an additional fence.

Enclosures should be designed to give more than adequate shelter for each individual bird, and for young on nest sites.

Perches of differing diameters will provide valuable gripping exercise for the birds and irregular shapes mean less chance of pressure sores or bumble foot. It is advisable to keep an eye on perches and change them regularly. Perches sited away from walls make for better visibility, cleaner enclosures and birds in better feather condition. Good perches with plenty of branches should be placed close to nest areas so that young birds have a place to hop to once they become active.

Nest boxes, preferably two per pair, should be placed in the back of the aviary, size is 70x70 cm x 55 cm high.