Known for their precision and speed, the falcon bird seeks out food like any bird of prey. Falcons, rather than being one species of bird, actually include 40 different species with specific traits that make each one unique.
Even with many different types of falcons, this family of birds is wholly considered to be the fastest-living animal. Peregrine falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of over 200 miles per hour!
Falcon birds have a close relationship with hawks, possessing the same ferocity and quick reactions. Their streamlined bodies display slender, pointed wings. With their agility, these birds can often snatch their prey while they are in mid-flight.
Evolution and Origins
Falcons evolved about 50 to 35 million years ago during the Eocene Epoch. This possibly took place in South America or Africa, in the southern hemisphere. The modern falcons, genus Falco, began to diversify around 7.5 million years ago. Falcons belong to the family Falconidae.
Amazing Falcon Bird Facts
A Peregrine Falcon spreads its wings while perched on a stump. Falcons are the fastest animals in the world.
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- The fastest animal on earth is the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), which reaches speeds of up to 242 mph. It is nearly four times the speed of the fastest land animal (which is the cheetah).
- These birds can catch their food with their beaks while they are in mid-flight.
- Falcons have incredible eyesight, which is why they are able to capture their food so easily. They can see both regular color and ultraviolet color, exceeding the range of humans.
- The cardiovascular system of the falcon bird allows them to sustain rapid wingbeats, with some species reaching up to 4-5 wingbeats per second during flight.
Where to Find Falcons
During hunting, Aplomado falcon pairs often pass food to each other in flight.
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Falcon birds seem to be spread across the world, including areas from the United States to the Tundra. Each species seems to have its own area that it prefers to reside in. For example, the American kestrel will migrate throughout the contiguous United States, sharing this home with peregrine falcons. They will also travel as far as Alaska and Hawaii.
Peregrine falcons like to travel even further to every continent, and even feel comfortable in the desert. However, as well-accustomed as they are to extreme temperatures, the only area that this bird does not inhabit is Antarctica.
In their habitats, the falcon bird will make their nest in tree holes, as well as on cliffs and natural ledges.
Classification and Scientific Name
Modern Falcons are classified in the Falconiformes order.
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Falcons belong to the kingdom Animalia and the Phylum Chordata. Their class is called Aves, and the order is called Falconiformes. Their genus is called Falco.
The name “hawk” has French and English origins, coming from the word “faucon.” The Latin word for the bird, falconem, comes from the word falx, named for the similarity that their physical characteristics, like their talons, beak, and wings, have to a curved blade.
The Bird’s Size, Appearance, and Behavior
Lanner Falcon landing next to water in the Kalahari.
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Falcon birds can range from 13 to 23 inches, weighing approximately 1.5 to 3.3 pounds. Most of these birds of prey ultimately range from small to medium size, and their head is adorned with a black crown of feathers. This blackness extends to their nape and wedge as well, connecting the colors to look like a helmet over the bird’s head.
With long and pointed wings, these features are typically slate grey, creating a distinct contrast with the head. Along their throat, the feathers are white to nearly cream in color, and the sides of the abdomen feature both brown and black bars.
The falcon bird tends to be solitary, primarily coming together during the mating season and at no other time of the year. During the rest of the time, these birds will spend the days either resting at the tops of tall trees or hunting for food. The majority of species will hunt in the daytime, taking any opportunity with the sunlight (even at dusk and dawn) to hunt.
Falcon birds will migrate seasonally, seeking out a milder region when the weather is increasingly cold during the winter. The migratory species will often go to Central or South America, though some will only journey to the southern United States.
Interestingly, some of them do not migrate at all. When it comes to their home, falcons are incredibly territorial. They will fight and attack to defend their resting place, protecting themselves and their offspring from humans, birds, and other animals.
What do Falcons Eat?
These birds are carnivorous, meaning that they primarily consume meat in their diet. The sources of nutrients that they prefer will vary from species to species, but they are not picky; most often, they will just seek out food that is easy to catch without much work.
The Falcon doesn’t often go after the big games. Rodents, small reptiles, and small amphibians are the most common sources of nutrients.
Predators and Threats
Like many living creatures, these birds tend to have their own slew of predators and other threats to their lives. Though their predatory characteristics keep them rather high on the food chain, humans and wolves are both dangers to the falcon bird population.
Large owls will seek out the birds that are still young and inexperienced in their defenses. However, more often than not, animals that prey on falcons will consume their eggs and young for a smaller challenge, as they cannot protect themselves without the help of their parents yet.
Though these birds are considered to be at “least concern” on the endangered species list, there are still many laws that protect these birds (along with hawks and eagles) from being hunted as meat.
What Does a Falcon Bird Eat?
The food that these birds eat is entirely dependent on what they can lift and what they can catch. As speedy as most rodents are, falcons will seek out mice, rats, and even rabbits. If another bird is small enough to be caught in the sharp beak of the falcon, these birds will seek them out as well.
Additionally, they consume snakes and frogs, despite the defenses that these animals may have against predators.
What Eats Falcons?
As stated above, wolves and large owls have been known to go after falcons as food. However, they are not often the prey in the wild.
Even though humans are a threat, most sources say that it is not good to eat them. Their bodies do not often have any fat, due to their physical activity, making the meat rather dry. Furthermore, the primary concern with consuming falcon meat is due to the legal issues surrounding hunting the birds.
The Bird’s Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan
Young Peregrine falcon in the nest.
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Most of the falcon bird species are monogamous, which means that they have one mating partner. They usually mark territories around their nesting sites at the time of mating.
Female falcons take full responsibility for the incubation of babies known as chicks. They take care of the babies while the male falcons hunt for food.
Each cluster contains about two to four eggs. The incubation of falcon babies lasts about a month. However, different species of falcon babies take different amounts of time to start flying.
On average, falcons live for about 13 years. At most, they live for about 16 to 20 years.
Population
The total number of falcons around the world is currently unknown, but their conservation status is considered to be “least concern” overall. The most recent estimates suggest that there are over 140,000 peregrine falcons alone, and the total number of falcons worldwide is much higher, though an exact figure is unknown.
The peregrine falcon was formerly considered endangered when certain pesticides were used over 50 years ago, killing much of the population. Since DDT — one of the deadliest pesticides — was banned, peregrine falcons have flourished, and their nesting areas are now protected.
