Peregrine Falcons are the fastest animal on earth. They can fly over 200 miles per hour in steep hunting dives called "stoops." The impact of the dive kills the rock dove (pigeon), European starling, blue jay and other song birds in mid-flight. The Peregrine Falcon will quickly turn to catch the prey with its talons as it falls or gather it's prey when it hits the ground. The astonishing hunting dives made the Peregrine Falcon a prized species for falconers since ancient times.
Field identification: Blue slate grey slender falcon 16-20 inches, with wingspan of 36-44 inches, weigh 1-2 pounds, wide black marlars below dark eyes, lightly banded wings and tail feathers. Male is 1/3 smaller then the female and is called a tiercel or tercel. Males have a darker plumage.
Live an average 12-14 years and up to 20 years. Around 70 percent of new eyases die the first year.
Male tiercels conduct an elaborate flight display of dives and loops to attract a mate. Most mate for life. Nesting begins in March-April. Incubation of 2-6 eggs take around 39 days. Young eyases fledge in 40 days and will often stay with parents for 5-6 weeks.
Nests are shallow scrapes on cliffs or ledges of buildings and bridges in urban settings.
Female does most of the nest sitting. Male will relieve female periodically and will bring food to the nest.
Peregrines often hunt in pairs, attack from above and behind and use the sun to blind the prey of their approach. Hunt over 450 north american bird species including ducks, shore birds, blue jays, European starlings and pigeons. Hunt during the day, but also are known to hunt migrating birds during night flights.
"Stoop" dives have been measured over 200 miles per hour and it flies between 50-60 miles per hour during hunts and regularly flies 25-30 miles per hour.
One younger female killed the older female mate and took her place at the Custom House.
Peregrines are nesting at the Boston Custom House area (They have serveral nesting sites in near-by buildings), Tobin Bridge, Christian Science Church, Longwood medical area, and Quincy Ship Yard.