BIOLOGICAL DATA AND HABITAT REQUIREMENTS
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Falco peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon 



TIMING OF MAJOR LIFE HISTORY EVENTS : 
Courtship - begins in autumn
Breeding - March through August, peaking in May or June
Reproductive Age - 1 year, although many do not produce until their
                   2nd year for various reasons  
Clutch Size - two to five eggs; not all eggs hatch and not all 
              hatchlings fledge 
Incubation - 28 to 32 days 
Fledge - 35 to 42 days after hatching 
Lifespan - 20 years
Migration Period - spring and autumn 
[7,12,19]


PREFERRED HABITAT : 
Peregrine falcons prefer a variety of open habitats near nesting cliffs
or mountains.  They usually inhabit areas near water, such as lakes,
rivers, or oceans [7].  They can be found from sea level to 10,000
feet (0-3,050 m) [11].


COVER REQUIREMENTS : 
Peregrine falcons most frequently nest on ledges of high cliffs within 1
or 2 miles (2 or 3 km) of water [11].  Nest sites are often used for
several years.  They tend to choose overhanging cliffs with loose soil,
sand, dead vegetation, or gravel, in which they can scrape a depression
for their eggs [18].  They occasionally nest in trees.  In British
Columbia, Campbell and others [6] found peregrine falcons nesting in
abandoned bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nests in Sitka spruce
(Picea sitchensis) trees.  In the Great Plains, they formerly nested on
cliffs near rivers and lakes, on low dikes in marshes and mudbanks, and
in large trees [15].


FOOD HABITS : 
Peregrine falcons primarily eat birds.  Prey species include, but are
not limited to, swallows (Hirundinidae), pigeons and doves (Columbidae),
and various ducks, shorebirds, and waders [7,11].  Along the Pacific
Coast of North America, peregrines feed on auklets and murrelets
(Alcidae), and petrels (Hydrobatidae).  Greiman [10] reported that
peregrine diets included tree and ground squirrels (Sciuridae),
rabbits (Leporidae), various other small mammals, and passerine birds.
In cities peregrines prey on pigeons and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)
[5].


PREDATORS : 
The peregrine falcon's most destructive predator is man.  In the past
falconers robbed nests of eggs, which has led to the peregrine falcon's
decline [18,20].  Amadon [1] reported that red fox (Vulpes vulpes) or
wolverine (Gulo luscus) could possibly prey on eggs and that
great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus) may prey on adults.


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The deadly effects of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides on peregrine
falcon populations are widely documented in the literature [14,16].
These pesticides reduce eggshell thickness, thereby causing the eggs to
break during incubation.  Although these pesticides are banned in the
United States and Canada, Mexico and some Central and South American
countries still use them.  Because peregrine falcons migrate, they are
affected by these pesticides.  However, the peregrine falcon has made a
dramatic comeback in the past decade [14,16].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Falco peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon