adult

adult underwing European distribution alighting and perched

Identification

The Peregrine is a big and powerful falcon, with the larger female looking impressively deep-chested. They generally look dark above and pale below, and fly with quick shallow wing-beats. The thick black moustachial lobes aren't easy to see but the upper chest often looks distinctively white from a distance. The long pointed wings and short broad tapering tail produce a characteristic 'anchor' shape.

Habitat

Breeds on sea cliffs, mountain crags and inland quarries. Winters on moorland, marshes and estuaries.

Behaviour

The Peregrine Falcon is said to be the fastest bird in the world. When it stoops vertically downwards for its prey it has been recorded at speeds up to 180 miles per hour.

Migration

Northern populations are migratory following their prey species south during winter, some visiting Britain and Ireland.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Peregrine Falcon is classed as Local: generally fairly regular or common species that a 'county lister' or a birding beginner might be interested in going to see. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

undisc. site, Highland 01/09/2010	Wick, Glos 30/08/2010	Wick, Glos 30/08/2010	Wick, Glos 30/08/2010	undisc. site, Glamorgan 28/08/2010
Stepper Point, Cornwall 14/08/2010	Stepper Point, Cornwall 14/08/2010	Stepper Point, Cornwall 14/08/2010	Stepper Point, Cornwall 14/08/2010	Stevns, Denmark 17/06/2010

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Peregrine Falcon breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	Video footage from Derby Cathedral is a world first in showing night-hunting by Peregrine Falcons	Monday 11th January 2010
	An unfortunate Woodcock is the star of some remarkable footage of urban-dwelling Peregrines.   read on
	RSPB: Peregrines in 2009: shot, poisoned and trapped	Wednesday 1st July 2009
	Despite the success of many inner-city Peregrines, this magnificent raptor is more persecuted than ever before.   read on
	RSPB: Peregrines are back in town…	Monday 30th March 2009
	And you can make a date with them and the RSPB.   read on
	RSPB: Taken from the nest!	Wednesday 25th June 2008
	Theft of chicks highlights need for legal protection.   read on
	City slippers	Friday 20th June 2008
	Derby Cathedral's feathered guests make an early bid for freedom and end up down the pub.
	RSPB: New homes for orphaned Peregrines	Tuesday 10th June 2008
	RSPB places Peregrine chicks into 'foster nests' after they are orphaned by trappers in West Midlands.   read on
	RSPB: Peregrine nests targeted in callous attack	Thursday 29th May 2008
	Reward offered as birds trapped and eggs smashed.   read on
	British Birds: Diet and prey selection of urban-dwelling Peregrine Falcons in southwest England	Friday 14th March 2008
	The first in a series of papers from British Birds.
	Swedish Bird 'Terns' up in Derby	Monday 13th August 2007
	The remains of an Arctic Tern that had been ringed in Sweden were found on the roof of Derby Cathedral last week.   read on
	Urban Peregrines with Catholic Tastes	Wednesday 14th March 2007
	Last summer, a pair of Peregrine Falcons successfully nested on Derby Cathedral for the first time. This year two cameras have been put on the platform to monitor the pair's progress.   read on
	RSPB Fears Increase in Wild Bird Crimes if Government Scraps Bird Registration Scheme	Thursday 15th February 2007
	The withdrawal of a scheme requiring bird keepers to register threatened bird species held in captivity could lead to an increase in the number of birds plundered from the wild, believes the RSPB.   read on
	Urban Peregrines in Derby	Saturday 3rd June 2006
	Urban Peregrines are becoming an increasingly regular part of our cities. A pair of birds in Derbyshire have been attracting attention this year, and ongoing analysis of the prey items have produced surprises, such as Quail and Waxwing!   read on

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