Falcons are one type of about 60 species of birds of prey that come from the family Falconidae which also includes eagles, hawks, kites and vultures. The true falcons are identified by a bullet shaped body; long, pointed wings; a medium to long tail; long toes with sharp, hooked claws; a short neck; and a short, hooked, usually notched bill or beak. They range in size from 15 to 63cm (6 to 25in) in length and weigh up to 1.8kg (4lbs).
Their colour may vary widely among thew species, but the sexes of any one species are usually similar in appeatance except that the females are larger. Certain species of falcons are also known as hobbies, kestrels, preegrin, or the merlin (pigeon hawk); and nine or ten other species. IN falcontry, only the female peregrine, (Falco peregrinus) is properly called a falcon. Similarly, the male peregrine is called a tiercel, but the name may be applied to other male falcons as well.
Falcons are strong fast fliers with great
aerial agility. They seldom soar in tile manner of hawks. The
peregrine has been clocked at 290 km/h (180 mph) in a stoop, or
dive. This speed and agility make talcons successtul hunters of
birds, reptiles, and small mammals. A number of species, however,
are insectivorous or eaters of carrion. Although falcons strike
or grasp their prey with their sharp claws, they generally kill
the captured prey with their sharp beaks. The shortwinged hawks
kill with their claws.
Falcons are usually solitary or live in pairs. They nest in trees
or on cliffs anJ will often occupy the nests of other species of
birds.
Females generally lay two to six eggs, and both the male and female incubate the eggs and care for the young. The falcon passes through four distinct perioJs during its life cycle. The length of each period changes among the species and with the size of the birds. The nestling period occupies the time from hatching to first flight. During this time the young bird grows rapidly and gains all its feathers. The post-nestling stage is the fledgling (when they leave the nest.) During this period the parents hunt food for the young falcon.
When the bird leaves the nest to be on its own
it is considered a juvenile. The juvenile period lasts until the
falcon reaches sexual maturity, wlien it is consiclereci an
adult. Falcons seldom live more than 20 years.
The falcons' on1y serious enemy is
humankind. For many years falcons were considered vermin because
they were thought to exact a heavy toll on clickens and
other livestock. In recent times pesticides have been responsible
for decmimating and endangering several species of Falcon.
Research ha5 shown that pesticides (DDT) reduce the ability of certain falcons to produce sufficient calcium for their eggs; hecause of this, the eggs are thin shelled and extremely likely to hreakage. At least one of the living species is considered endangered, the Seychelles kestrel Female. araea, and one other species, the Mauntius kestrel, Female. punctatus, may he extinct.
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