The black-thighed falconet is the world’s smallest falcon, with adult males measuring just 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in length and weighing as little as 28 grams (1 ounce), while spanning only 27 centimeters (10.6 inches) across the wings. Among true Falco species, the Seychelles kestrel is the smallest, reaching just 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in […]
Category: Falconidae
American kestrel (Falco sparverius): Smallest falcon in the Americas
The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest and most widespread falcon in the Americas, ranging from Alaska to Argentina across a diverse array of habitats. This highly adaptable raptor is known for its agile hunting techniques and striking plumage. While its global population remains stable, regional declines in North America have raised concerns about […]
The Mallard talked and his enemy the Falcon heard.
The wintry winds had already begun to whistle and the waves to rise when the Drake and his mate gathered their half-grown brood together on the shore of their far northern lake. “Wife,” said he, “it is now time to take the children southward, to the Warm Countries which they have never yet seen!” Very […]
Variation in the quality of parental care at falcon nests in South Africa as evidence for postulated differences in food availabi lity.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 1 abstract Parental care by Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus an d Lanner Falcons F. biarmicus during the nestling period was studied in two areas of South Africa. Comparisons were made between the quality of care administered to broods of Peregrine Falcons at nests in tropical (the Soutpansberg) an d […]
Identification of natal locales of peregrine falcons (falco peregrinus) by trace-element analysis of feathers
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 12 abstract Samples of secondary remiges collected from nestling Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in Alaska and western Greenland were analyzed for trace-element content using instrumental neutron-activation analysis. Concentrations of 14 trace elements were subjected to a series of multivariate discriminant function analyses to ascertain whether or not these concentrations […]
Kleptoparasitism by Peregrine Falcons on Carrion Crows
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 4 abstract […]. The study area was Bizkaia, a small province of 2300 km2 located in the north of Spain. In this area we have monitored about 35-38 Peregrine territories since 1997. During this time we have studied the prey of Peregrines in the nests, recording 931 prey of […]
Genetic relationships in the peregrine falcon (Falcoperegrinus) analysed by microsatellite DNA markers
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 10 abstract Microsatellite DNA markers were developed from a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)and genetic relationships among peregrine falcons in southern Norway were analysedusing the markers. The genomic DNA library was screened for the presence of dinucleotidemicrosatellite repeats. Twelve loci revealed polymorphism through the initial analysis of24 unrelated peregrine falcons, […]
Gliding flight: drag and torque of a hawk and a falcon with straight and turned heads, and a lower value for the parasite drag coefficient
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 6 abstract Raptors falcons, hawks and eagles in this study-such as peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) that attack distant prey from high-speed dives face a paradox. Anatomical and behavioral measurements show that raptors of many species must turn their heads approximately 40 deg to one side to see the prey […]
Rock climbing and Raven Corvus corax ocurrence depress breeding success of cliff-nesting Peregrines Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 5 abstract Aims: To assess the significance of rock climbing-induced disturbance and Raven Corvus corax occurrence on the breeding output of a cliff-nesting Peregrine Falco peregrinus population.Location: Northern Italy- southern Switzerland.Methods: Breeding success, productivity and fledgling rate of 29 Peregrine pairs were analysed in relation to the occurrence of […]
Curved flight paths and sideways vision in peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Science Article 7 abstract When diving at prey straight ahead from great distances at high speeds, a peregrine has a conflict between vision and rodynamics: it must turn its head approximately 40 deg to one side to see the prey with maximum visual acuity at the deep fovea of one eye, […]


