It is time to enjoy some of the most fascinating peregrine falcon facts for kids. Also known as duck hawk, the peregrine falcon is one of the fastest birds in the world. It can fly at an average speed of 25 to 34 miles per hour. However, as the falcon dives after the prey, it can have a cruising flight of more than 200 miles per hour. In this article we’ll tell you all about peregrine falcon.
Peregrine Falcon Facts for Kids
Peregrine falcon has a barred look. The upper body is bluish-gray while it has barred underside. It has long tail and pointed wings.
Peregrine falcon has a length range of 36 to 49 centimeters and weighs around 530 to 1600 grams Its wingspan ranges from 100 to 110 centimeters.
Peregrine Falcon Lifespan: The average lifespan of Peregrin falcon is around 17 years. The lifespan of the oldest known falcon is around 19 years and 9 months.
They reach maturity at the age of 1 to 3 years.
They lay a clutch size of 2 to 5 eggs. The hatchlings are ready to fledge after 35 to 42 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the eggs are laid between February and March. In the Southern Hemisphere, the egg-laying period is between July and August.
They are one of the most widespread raptors around the world. They are found in almost all continents, apart from Antarctica. They do not inhabit extreme climates of polar regions and tropical rainforests.
What Do Peregrine Falcons Eat? The main diet of peregrine falcons consists of medium-sized birds like doves, pigeons, songbirds and waterfowl. Occasionally, they may also hunt small mammals, birds or insects.
What Eats Peregrine Falcons? The nestlings and eggs are often eaten by predators like herons, gulls, ravens as well as mammals like wolves, foxes, felids and bears. The predators for the adult birds are gyrfalcons, large eagles and owls. The eurasian eagle owl and the great horned owl are the most common predators in North America.
