Falcons are not like all the rest, but they are faster!
- Falcons are birds of prey found all around the world excluding Antarctica, and the genus contains more than 35 species.
- A falcon has the scientific name Falco and it is from the family Falconidae, the family of birds of prey that includes said birds and caracaras.
- Falcons typically are 22 to 40 centimetres (9 to 16 inches) in height and have a wingspan of between 51 to 110 centimetres (20 to 43 inches) across and weigh between 0.7 to 1.2 kilograms (1.5 to 2.6 pounds).
- The feathers of falcons are generally a combination of colours that vary between species, that can include black, white, grey, and brown, many of which have various patterned markings; and sometimes the area around the eyes, beak or feet are coloured yellow.
- The eyesight of falcons is extremely powerful, and they are able to see roughly 2.6 times better than humans.
Peregrine Falcon
Image courtesy of Frankzed/Flickr
- A falcon’s diet, depending on the species, can consist of birds, bats, insects, reptiles and smaller mammals, such as rodents and rabbits.
- Falcons have tapered wings that allow the bird to reach speeds that are faster than all extant animals, at 322 kilometres per hour (200 miles per hour).
- Female falcons lay eggs in high, elevated locations, that are difficult for predators to reach, and around three eggs are laid over one period.
- Normally, birds of prey would kill using their feet claws, however this is not the case with falcons, as they use their sharp beak and the extra point or ‘tooth’ that they have on the side of it.
- Falcons generally live by themselves in areas where there are cliffs, mountains or places that have significant height; and some species are endangered, vulnerable or near threatened.
Bibliography:
Flacon, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/falcon/
Falcon, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon
It’s always super special to see a Peregrine in flight!