Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Identification & Behavior: ~40 cm (15.7 in). The adult Peregrine Falcon has a black head and gray back. The throat and upper breast are white (males) or buff (females) and grades onto a pale belly with dusky barring on the rest of the underparts. The juvenile has dusky-brown back and streaked buff and brown head with a conspicuous mustache and streaked underparts.  The migratory sub-species (tundrius) is paler overall. It is similar to the Orange-breasted Falcon but is distinguished by uniform pale barred underparts. These two species overlap only on the eastern side of the Andes. Also, see Aplomado Falcon.

Status: The resident subspecies (cassini) is uncommon on the western and high Andes at elevations ranging between 1800–4300 m. The boreal migrant (tundrius) is common on the western lowlands and in Amazonia. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Halcón Peregrino.

Sub-species: Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus tundrius), C. M. White 1968. Western and Eastern lowlands of Peru.
(F. p. cassini), Sharpe, 1873. W South America, from Ecuador (locally) S through Bolivia.

Meaning of Name: Falco: Gr. phalkön= falcon. peregrinus: L. peregrinus= wanderer, pilgrim, a stranger to the place, which comes from the exterior.

See more of the Family Falconidae