Both sexes of this large falcon look alike with a dark slate-blue back and wings and a dark blue tail that is lightly barred. The top of the head is dark with a dark stripe running down the side of the face. The cere, legs, and feet are bright yellow. The underside of the adult is light with vertical streaks across the breast, belly and legs. The male (the tiercel) is about two-thirds the size of the female (the falcon).

What They Eat
Peregrine falcons feed primarily on other birds, such as songbirds, shorebirds, ducks, and, in urban areas, starlings and pigeons. Flying high above their intended prey, Peregrines will "stoop" or dive and strike in mid-air, killing the prey with a sharp blow. Scientists estimate the speed of a diving peregrine to be more than 200 miles per hour.

Where They Live
Distributed worldwide, Peregrine falcons are found on every continent except Antarctica. They can be found breeding in the arctic tundra, through Europe and North America, and south into Africa, South America, the Pacific Islands and Australia.

What They Do
When Peregrines soar, they hold their wings flat and fan out their tails fully, making them appear diamond-shaped. While soaring, their wings are fully extended, and the wingtips appear broad and rounded, in contrast to their normally sharp-pointed appearance. In a dive (known as a stoop) the wings are folded in close to the body.

How They’re Doing
The Peregrine Falcon was listed as an Endangered Species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972 following the catastrophic decline of the species worldwide. In response and after the banning of DDT, the Peregrine Fund, a non-profit organization, was founded with a mission to reintroduce the species into North America. Some of the earliest reintroduction sites included historic nesting areas in Pennsylvania during the 1970s. The Peregrine has subsequently experienced one of the most dramatic recoveries of any endangered species, and was formally removed from the federal list in 1999.

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Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon