About 40 species of fast birds of prey with thin, tapered wings, found on every continent except Antarctica. Unlike hawks and eagles, which kill with their talons, falcons kill with a notch on the side of the beak.
Quick answers
What is it?Bird
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?Sometimes
Kept and trained for falconry, hunting with captive birds of prey, rather than as pets.
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatGrassland, Mountains, Coast, Towns
ColoursGrey, White, Black
SizeMedium
Length15–24 cm (Seychelles kestrel) to 65 cm (gyrfalcon)
WeightAbout 840–910 g (peregrine falcon, average)
Legs2
Covered inFeathers
Lives inpairs
Lives for12–15 years
Can fly
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Every continent except Antarctica.
Did you know
Its hunting dive is said to top 320 km/h, though radar has only confirmed 184 km/h.
Females are typically larger than males, which lets a pair take a wider range of prey.
Often confused with
- Hawk
Falcons kill with a tooth-like notch on the beak and have long, pointed wings. Hawks kill with their talons and usually have broader wings.
Compare side by side - Kestrel
Kestrels are small falcons. The name is given to the species that hover while hunting.
Compare side by side
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