View allAll Photos Tagged FALCON
The peregrine's breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests; the only major ice-free landmass from which it is entirely absent is New Zealand. This makes it the world's most widespread raptor, and one of the most widely found bird species. In fact, the only land-based bird species found over a larger geographic area is not always naturally occurring, but one widely introduced by humans, the rock pigeon, which in turn now supports many peregrine populations as a prey species. The peregrine is a highly successful example of urban wildlife in much of its range, taking advantage of tall buildings as nest sites and an abundance of prey such as pigeons and ducks. Both the English and scientific names of this species mean "wandering falcon," referring to the migratory habits of many northern populations. Experts recognize 17 to 19 subspecies, which vary in appearance and range; disagreement exists over whether the distinctive Barbary falcon is represented by two subspecies of Falco peregrinus, or is a separate species, F. pelegrinoides. The two species' divergence is relatively recent, during the time of the last ice age, therefore the genetic differential between them (and also the difference in their appearance) is relatively tiny. They are only about 0.6–0.8% genetically differentiated.
While its diet consists almost exclusively of medium-sized birds, the peregrine will occasionally hunt small mammals, small reptiles, or even insects. Reaching sexual maturity at one year, it mates for life and nests in a scrape, normally on cliff edges or, in recent times, on tall human-made structures. The peregrine falcon became an endangered species in many areas because of the widespread use of certain pesticides, especially DDT. Since the ban on DDT from the early 1970s, populations have recovered, supported by large-scale protection of nesting places and releases to the wild.
The peregrine falcon is a well respected falconry bird due to its strong hunting ability, high trainability, versatility, and – in recent years – availability via captive breeding. It is effective on most game bird species, from small to large.
This image shows how the feathers overlap each other. What peregrines can do aerodynamically (is that a word?) is nothing short of amazing. They can cup their wings for braking, flex and turn them at impossible angles for turning, and pull them in tight like a bullet for 200 mph stoops. Background is the ocean.
This Peregrine Falcon watched me for several minutes before I noticed him. I told this story to another birder and his reply was If I were a Coot I'd be dead.
With all three of her chicks flying around now, Mum Peregrine Falcon is busy teaching them how to hunt. Here she has dropped a bird (her prey) so that her chick can learn how to pluck a bird out of the sky.
Früher Vormittag heute: ein Falke sitzt in der Birke am Gartenzaun
Early morning today: a falcon sits in the birch at the garden fence
A diving metal falcon which might still frighten a mouse if it were running across the lawn. It can swivel in the wind on the steel pyramid.
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At Wingspan.
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An amazing thing to see - this juvenile Peregrine Falcon was pretty high up in flight. It was crazy as it went into a high speed dive, it swooped down about 100 feet from where I was standing, I thought it was going to land on the ground, it almost touched down and then accelerated right by! Thanks for looking.
Yeehaw, raptors! This falcon is a recent settler at my local regional park. The resident crows, however, were just merciless this early morning. They started hanging in the same leafless tree; one got just one branch above the Peregrine even. I guess they don't know a Peregrine can take a crow (saw it, photographed it earlier this year). The raptor endured for awhile, but flew about 10 minutes later. Then the crows moved on to hassle a red-shouldered hawk - one chased it even. And, by the way, don't you just love its "pantalones" as my BF would say? Cool stuff.
This beauty is a Falcon Miniature camera originally made by the Utility Manufacturing Company beginning around 1939...they are simple cameras made of Bakelite and where badged under several different names during their run. I have several of these in my collection, two Falcon's, a Miniature Remington camera, and a Photo Master.
The Utility Manufacturing Company was eventually taken over by the Spartus Company and these simple 127 cameras continued to be produced for many years. These cameras appear to be modeled after the Argus A 35mm cameras but the Argus A's were much better cameras...I have several of these in my collection too.
The Falcon Miniature is a fun camera to shoot and if you like the Lomography style of photography these will definitely appeal to you. They shoot 127 film, which is still available online from several film retailers. I find these at Estates sales from time to time and I always pick them up if they are in decent condition. This one, as you can see came with the original box and the original instruction manual.
This was a huge win for me today! I have been wanting to photograph a gyrfalcon for quite a long time. I have chased two 2 others ones reported in NJ over the years and failed miserably at even catching a glimpse of one. These birds are very rare in NJ. I was lucky enough to get multiple perch and flight shots of this fella today... quite a treat! Totally worth the 4 hour round trip. I might just go for him again tomorrow! Thanks for looking!
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This falcon was soaked from foraging in the wet grass for prey. It sat there for quite some time before taking off and finally giving my arm a rest.
Sometimes its nice to show a little more of the scene than just close ups this is one such picture.
Peregrine falcon on the marvellous backdrop that is Chichester Cathedral.
Our smallest falcon, the kestrel : This was hard to believe but i have been chasing these little falcons for years and never got the shot i wanted well then the other day i walked out my front door and there was the shot sitting in my Oak Tree,so with a mad dash back into the house to get the camera i was able to pull of some decent clicks befor away it went.
"Have a Great Day"
The Red-Footed Falcon currently on show at Isle Brewers in Somerset is a real star. So with a hint of blue sky this evening, I was off down the road to take another look. Such a beautiful bird and star performer.
Falco peregrinus adult,
Pismo Beach, California
The gulls which nest nearby the falcon aerie occasionally harass the fledgling falcons so it only seems right when the adult peregrines strike some fear back into the gulls.
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders // Falcons vs 49ers // 10/3/10 – Georgia Dome, Atlanta PHOTO: Art Morrison
Black Falcon
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We don't see these birds very often, so at first I didn't recognise the shape.
It was cutting across a paddock in what were 40+kph winds.
What caught my attention was the speed it was running into the wind.
It seemed to handle the on coming winds with the greatest of ease.