
One of the most common birds in the world, you can find the peregrine falcon in the cold lands of the Arctic as well as in the humid expanse of the rainforests. In fact, New Zealand stands as the only country on Earth where you won’t find them. Learn more about this amazing bird with these 30 Peregrine Falcon facts.
- 01A peregrine falcon’s body typically measures between 34 cm and 58 cm long.
- 02Their wingspan typically measures between 74 cm and 120 cm from one wingtip to the other.
- 03Females typically grow about 30% bigger than males.
- 04Males typically weigh between 330 g and 1 kg.
- 05Females, on the other hand, typically weigh between 700 g and 1.5 kg.
- 01The peregrine falcon’s ancestors first evolved between 8 and 5 million years ago.
- 02Scientists remain divided whether or not they first evolved in Eurasia or in Africa.
- 03Peregrine falcons diverged from hierofalcons between 2.5 and 2 million years ago.
- 04Barbary falcons later diverged from the peregrine falcons at the end of the last Ice Age.
- 05Humans first began taming peregrine falcons around 3000 years ago, in Central Asia.
- 06English ornithologist, Marmaduke Tunstall, gave them their scientific name, Falco peregrinus, in 1771.
- 07Soldiers used peregrine falcons in WWII to intercept enemy messenger pigeons.
- 08Pesticides like DDT caused peregrine falcon populations to sharply decline from the 1950s to the 1970s.
- 09Peregrine falcons recovered by 1999, when they lost their endangered species designation.
- 10Peregrine falcons today enjoy “protected” status worldwide.
- 01With a maximum recorded speed of 389 kph, the peregrine falcon has the reputation of the fastest animal on Earth.
- 02On average, however, a peregrine falcon regularly reaches a top speed of only 320 kph.
- 03Some airports use peregrine falcons to scare other birds away, reducing the danger of bird strikes.
- 04The Ancient Egyptians associated peregrine falcons with the Sun god, Ra.
- 05In Medieval Europe, people associated princes with peregrine falcons.
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