Out of all of the birds in the animal kingdom I think its fair to say that falcons are some of the coolest. Sleek, streamlined, and fast, these hunters are definitely the fighter jets of the bird world. While most people know what falcons are, there are many things that many people don’t know about them that actually make them even more amazing. Here are five things you didn’t know about Falcons.
1. They’re Diverse and Specialized
When talking about falcons, this is the bird that most people probably picture in their mind, the Peregrine Falcon. It makes sense since Peregrine Falcons are widespread and often seen around humans, but in reality, there are around 60 falcon species across the globe and several different species that can be found in the United States. Many of these birds look and act extremely differently from one another. For instance, the American Kestrel is quite different in coloration from the rest with oranges and blues. The crested caracara is in the same family as falcons but doesn’t act like it at all, preferring to walk along the ground and scavenge for food rather than using aerial acrobatics to catch quick moving prey. Then there’s the aptly named Bat Falcon that lives in central and south american and as you might have guessed, specializes in catching bats. There are even more specific types of falcons than these though, like the prairie falcon that hunts the canyons and mesas of America’s western states and the well camouflage gyrfalcon that lives in the most northern parts of the world. Overall, falcons are extremely well specialized and can be vastly different from one another.
2. They hold Speed Records
Out of all animals, a falcon holds the record for being the fastest in the world. The Peregrine Falcon typically cruises around the sky at a speed of around 25 to 35 miles per hour. It’s when they dive for prey though that the pace really picks up. During these dives known as stoops. Peregrines can reach speeds that exceed 240 miles per hour with some reports even having that number close to 250. That’s faster than an F1 race car. Going this fast should theoretically cause severe damage to the falcon, but these birds have special adaptations that prevent this from happening including specialized structures in their nostrils that redirect air and prevent their lungs from bursting. Other falcons fly fast too with Gyrfalcons and prairie falcons diving at a top speed around 150 miles per hour and small falcons like merlins having a cruising speed between 30 and 50 miles per hour.
3. They’re Killing Machines
Speed is of course an extremely useful thing to have when hunting prey, but falcons have way more in their arsenal than just that. Falcons are equipped with incredible visual processing skills, allowing them to see objects and movement even when they’re traveling at high speeds. In terms of weaponry, falcons don’t just rely on talons to subdue prey but also a special sharp projection on their bill that shears through tissue and even small bones. Back to the peregrine falcon for a minute, they actually use their feet when hunting at their trade mark high speeds to essentially punch the birds they’re their after, oftentimes knocking them out of the sky. While they aren’t the largest birds in the world, they are still extremely effective hunters that are agile enough to catch insects and yet strong enough to take down birds their size or even larger.
4. They are Conservation Success Stories
The US has had some great bird success stories in terms of conservation, from the return of the Sandhill crane to the resurgence of the Bald Eagle. A few falcon species have also had impressive success stories. The Peregrine Falcon is probably the most famous as they returned from the brink in large part due to both political and hands-on human intervention, most notably the endangered species act, the banning of ddt, and captive nesting programs. Habitat loss among other things pushed the Aplomado Falcon out of the country completely until captive breeding programs brought them back into South Texas. While they still need more monitoring, especially in the case of the Aplomado Falcon, both of these are fantastic successes that prevented two amazing species from being permanently gone from the United States.
5. They are Forever linked with humans
Whether it’s for better or worse, falcons and humans have been interacting for thousands of years and will continue to interact for a variety of reasons. First, the practice of falconry has been going on for since ancient times and in some cultures the practice was viewed as a status symbol. Second, some falcon species have now adapted to human civilizations and in some cases even rely on them. Back one more time to the Peregrine Falcon, in their natural habitat, they nest on high cliffs. However, in cities with tall buildings, Peregrines now have replaced the natural cliffs with the skyscrapers that turned out to be perfect nesting locations. Many times, people put out nest boxes for the falcons, something that has been an integral part of their recovery. Another once very common falcon that needs some help from humans is the American Kestrel. Kestrel populations have declined 50 percent overall and while not endangered yet, this has led to nest box monitoring programs. For the foreseeable future, humans and kestrels will have to be connected for the species to get back to thriving.
Falcons are certainly amazing. From their sleek appearance to their violent hunting style, they are captivating, and I hope you learned something that you didn’t know about them. If you liked this video be sure to take a look at another of our videos on birds and birding and be sure to sign up for our email list so you never miss an update. S always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding