How fast do peregrine falcons fly?

In level flight, peregrines are fast but no faster than many other birds. Peregrines excel at diving at high speeds, usually in pursuit of prey. The maximum peregrine dive speed has been estimated at approximately 220 miles per hour. Typical dives range between 150 to 200 miles per hour. The peregrine is easily the fastest animal on earth today, and is very likely the fastest animal that has ever lived.

What do peregrines eat?

Peregrine falcons are almost exclusively avian predators. They catch and eat other birds, usually on the wing. Pigeons are a favorite source of food, particularly in urban environments. However, falcons are very opportunistic hunters and eat a wide variety of prey. On rare occasion, small mammals are also eaten. Peregrine falcons are renowned for their hunting ability, and it is while hunting that they use their spectacular powers of flight to the utmost.

Where do they go in the winter?

Naturally occurring populations, or subspecies, show tremendous variability in their migratory behavior. Some subspecies do not migrate at all. Others travel great distances. For example, the tundra subspecies nests on the arctic tundra of North America and winters in central South America. Probably due in part to its genetic mixture, the reintroduced population demonstrates all of this variability. Some birds, even those with very northern territories, do not migrate. Others do. To date, all of the peregrines that have established themselves in Fargo have migrated. They typically leave in September or October and return the following March or April. Dakota Ace, the curent territorial male in Fargo, has always been the last to leave and the first to return. So far his earliest return date is March 15. None of the Fargo falcons have been sighted in the winter, so we do not know exactly where they go.

How long do they live?

Peregrines have a long life span. Individual birds have been known to live in captivity for more than twenty years. To date, the longest a peregrine is known to have lived in the wild is eighteen years. Of course, typical life spans are shorter, and first year mortality rates are high. If a falcon survives its first winter, however, the odds of continued survival improve dramatically.

Do falcons mate for life?

Not exactly. Like many animals, falcons are extremely territorial. Furthermore, once they have established a territory, they will typically return to it each year and defend it against intruders. Because this is true of both male and female falcons, the same birds will frequently rediscover one another every spring at their common breeding territory. In this manner, they may continue to mate over an extended period of time. However, pairs do not stay together during the winter. Furthermore, should one member of a territorial pair fail to return or be displaced; the other bird will readily accept a replacement.

When do falcons begin to breed?

On occasion, falcons begin to breed the year after they hatch. This was particularly true when the reintroduced population was young, and there was limited competition for breeding territories. Most birds, however, do not begin to breed until they are two years old, and fully mature. If they are delayed in finding a territory or mate, it may take individual birds even longer. For example, Dakota Ace was three when he first laid claim to Fargo, and four when he first became a father. He is now six, and in his prime. Frieda, the current territorial female, is now two. Therefore, the Fargo falcons are both at an optimum age for breeding.

How many eggs do they lay?

Clutch sizes vary from one to five. Three or four seems to be the norm. Eggs are laid at intervals of two to three days. Incubation usually does not start in earnest until the clutch is almost complete. The female typically does most of the incubating, and during this period is fed by the male. The incubation period is approximately thirty-five days. The young then spend about six weeks in the nest until they are old enough to fly, or "fledge."

What happens to the young peregrines?

After fledging, the young remain dependent on their parents for a period of time, while they improve their flight skills and learn to hunt for themselves. Over time the fledglings become increasingly independent and dispersed. They typically strike out on their own early in the fall, and thereafter do not return. The ultimate dispersal process is random. Individual birds often travel considerable distances in the search for a territory of their own. The birds who have appeared in Fargo in recent years are typical of this dispersal process. The male was released in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and arrived in Fargo three years later. The two females were hatched respectively in Omaha, Nebraska and Alma, Wisconsin. Each came to Fargo as a juvenile bird.