Blue Finch Birds

Peregrine Falcon, known as the Peregrine, is a common bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, adults are blue-gray above, with barred underparts and a dark head with thick sideburns. Peregrine Falcon is often stated to be the fastest animal on the planet in its hunting dive.

Peregrine Falcons catch medium-sized birds in the air with swift, spectacular dives, called stoops. In cities they are masterful at catching pigeons. Elsewhere they feed especially on shorebirds and ducks.

The Peregrine Falcon became an endangered species because of the use of organochlorine pesticides, especially DDT, during the 1950s to 70s. Pesticide biomagnification caused organochlorine to build up in the falcons’ fat tissues, reducing the amount of calcium in their eggshells. With thinner shells, fewer falcon eggs survived to hatching. In several parts of the world, such as the eastern United States and Belgium, this species became extirpated (locally extinct) as a result.

You can find Peregrine Falcons perching or nesting on skyscrapers, water towers, cliffs, power pylons, and other tall structures.