FALCONS

FALCONS

A bird with pointed wings and a long tail that hunts and kills other birds and small animals.
Falcons have long wings, and they fly at high speeds. In fact, the peregrine falcon is the fastest moving bird on record, flying around 60 miles per hour and diving up to 200 mph. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.

Their powerful short beaks have a tomial tooth on the upper jaw, which with the hooked tip create a notch for cutting the spinal cord of prey.

The largest falcon is the gyrfalcon at up to 65 cm in length. The smallest falcons are the kestrels, of which the Seychelles kestrel  measures just 25 cm.

TYPES OF FALCONS

(All photos collected from google)

1. American kestrel

American kestrel is the smallest North American falcon. It is 9-12 inches in length with a wingspan of 21 inches. It has a rusty tail and back and two vertical black stripes in its face. It has a short, hooked bill; white cheeks; a long tail and long, pointed wings. The male has slate-gray wings and a spotted breast and belly. The female has rusty wings and streaks on her breast. The American kestrel is also known as the sparrow hawk.

2. Gyrfalcon

The largest falcon in the world, reigns over barren tundra and desolate coasts in the high Arctic. There it preys mostly on large birds such as ptarmigan and waterfowl, overtaking them in powerful flight. Most Gyrfalcons remain in the far north all year; only a few come as far south as the Canadian border in winter, providing thrills for birders. Variable in color, Gyrs may be blackish, gray, or stunningly white.

3. Merlin

A rather small falcon, compact and fast-flying, the Merlin is a common breeder across the northern forests of North America and Eurasia. It feeds mostly on small birds, capturing them in mid-air in rapid pursuit. The Merlin is generally found in wild places, but since about 1960 it has become a common urban bird in several towns on the northern prairies; there it nests and remains to winter, relying on a steady supply of House Sparrows as prey.

4. Peregrine falcon

One of the world's fastest birds; in power-diving from great heights to strike prey, the Peregrine may possibly reach 200 miles per hour. Regarded by falconers and biologists alike as one of the noblest and most spectacular of all birds of prey.

5. Prairie falcon

The Prairie Falcon is nearly the size of the famous Peregrine, but differs in its hunting behavior, often pursuing small prey with rapid, maneuverable flight close to the ground. Although it is characteristic of desolate plains and desert wilderness, this falcon has also adapted to altered landscapes: in winter, it is often seen flying over southwestern cities, or hunting Horned Larks in farm country.