Least Concern Birds

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Peregrine Falcon is a fast bird preying on medium birds across African cliffs and cities.

Scientific name	Falco peregrinus
Swahili name	Mwewe wa mbinguni
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Falconiformes
Family	Falconidae
Size	Male: 0.7-1.0 kg, body length approximately 34-58 cm; Female: 0.9-1.5 kg, body length approximately 39-58 cm

See this species in the app

How to identify

Medium to large body size, wings long and pointed; head with distinct black “moustache” markings; back blue-gray, belly white with black horizontal bars; extremely fast flight speed, the fastest bird in the world; yellow eye ring around the eyes

Habitat

Cliffs, rugged mountainous areas, tall city buildings, valleys, and coastal regions

Diet

Carnivorous, mainly preys on small to medium-sized birds such as pigeons, sparrows, and ducks

When it is active

Diurnal, mainly active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk

Where it lives

Widely distributed globally, found on almost all continents except polar regions and some tropical rainforests; present in Africa including Kenya and the Masai Mara region

How to spot it

Choose locations near cliffs or tall city buildings, observe at dawn or dusk; use telephoto lenses to capture fast flight moments; pay attention to “moustache” markings and flight posture

Photography tips

Use high-speed continuous shooting mode to capture flight moments; shoot during well-lit times; use binoculars or telephoto lenses to photograph distant flying peregrines