1 Basic Information

The peregrine (PAIR-uh-grin) falcon is a fascinating bird.

Its scientific name is Falco peregrinus (FAL-co pair-uh-GREEN-us). “Falco” comes from the Latin word “falx,” which means “sickle-shape,” referring to the curved shape of the bird’s wings in flight, its beak, and/or its talons. “Peregrinus” comes from the Latin word for “traveling” or “wandering,” referring to the way many peregrine falcons migrate.

Peregrine falcons are part of groups of birds called birds of prey (birds that prey on other animals) and raptors. (No, not the cool dinosaurs from Jurassic World!) The newest proposed definition of raptors is “all species within orders that evolved from a raptorial landbird lineage and in which most species maintained their raptorial lifestyle as derived from their common ancestor.”^[1] In other words, raptors are birds that evolved from a common ancestor (a bird that lived on land and ate vertebrates, or animals with backbones), and many of that ancestor’s descendants continue to have a raptorial lifestyle (meaning they also eat vertebrates). The word raptor comes from the Latin word “raptare,” meaning “to seize and carry off,” which is how these birds grasp and carry their prey using their feet.

There are five orders, or types, of raptors: Accipitriformes (axe-SIP-ih-trih-forms), Cariamiformes (carry-AM-ih-formes), Cathartiformes (cuh-THAR-tih-forms), Falconiformes (fal-CON-ih-forms), and Strigiformes (STRI-jih-forms). Accipitriformes are hawks, eagles, and Old World vultures. Cariamiformes are seriemas. Cathartiformes are New World vultures. Falconiformes are falcons. Strigiformes are owls. Accipitriformes, Cariamiformes, Cathartiformes, and Falconiformes are diurnal, which means that they are active during the day. Strigiformes are nocturnal, which means they are active during the night.

Peregrine falcons are Falconiformes. Their full classification is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: Peregrinus