The Peregrine Falcon is known for its speed, reaching over 240 mph during its high-speed dive, making it the fastest animal in the world. This bird of prey has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head with distinctive facial markings.
Peregrine Falcons are found worldwide across all continents except Antarctica. They favor a variety of habitats—from arctic tundras to tropical rainforests and even urban cities. In cities, they are often seen nesting on tall buildings and bridges, taking advantage of the high vantage points similar to their natural cliffside nesting sites.
Diet-wise, Peregrine Falcons feed primarily on other birds, such as doves and pigeons, which they catch in mid-air with astonishing precision. They strike with their talons and use their “toothed” beak to deliver a fatal bite to the neck of their prey.
These falcons are known for their incredible long-distance migrations, especially the populations that breed in the Arctic tundra and winter in South America. Conservation efforts, including banning harmful pesticides and providing nesting boxes, have helped their numbers recover impressively from mid-20th century declines.