Much like the iconic bald eagle, the peregrine falcon suffered heavily in North America from the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. Falcons nearly went extinct in North America. If they can spot it and catch it, they're likely to eat it.Ħ. You may think pigeons are resourceful when it comes to scrounging up lunch, but peregrine falcons are believed to hunt several thousand different kinds of species for food. These birds have an extra eyelid that moves from side to side and is partially translucent, allowing them to see through it while still enjoying its protection. They also have a ridge over their eyes to shade them from the sun, and and special bones in their skull to keep the eyes in place when making sudden moves. This allows the birds to spot small prey from nearly two miles away, and then swoop down precisely to catch it.Įvolution has worked its slow magic on the falcon eye to make it so useful. Scientists estimate that falcon vision is eight times better than humans'. Falcons only come together to mate, and otherwise spend their lives as solitary hunters. However, this doesn't mean they act like a married couple, cooking dinner and play Bingo together. There's no playing around for these birds: Falcons devote themselves to one partner for their reproductive years. While historically falconry was an elite and male-dominated activity, we have records of several notable women enjoying the hobby, including Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great of Russia and Mary, Queen of Scots.įalconry is still practiced worldwide today, and there is even an international association for the practice, with a membership of more than 60,000 people. In fact, this collaboration is much older. Ancient artworks illustrating falconry date back at least 3,500 years to ancient Mesopotamia and Mongolia. You may have seen artistic depictions of falconry, the art of training and using falcons to hunt small animals and birds, from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance. Humans have used falcons for hunting for thousands of years. To allow them to reach such mindblowing speeds, these birds boast aerodynamic torsos and specially pointed wings, as well as adapted cardiovascular and respiratory systems that allow them to beat their wings up to four times per second without fatiguing.Ģ. Peregrine falcons have been clocked at reaching speeds of 242 miles per hour while diving for prey, making them the fastest recorded animal ever. Now, is sharing a few facts about theperegrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus) in honor of the species' coming appearance in the Super Bowl. They've given their name to one of the most famous Marvel superheroes, and humans have relied on them for millennia as effective hunting partners. They're the consummate hunters of the avian world-able to spot, chase and kill prey quietly and efficiently.
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