530 THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 
Recognition Marks.—Crow size; dark coloration; black “moustache” ; long 
pointed wings; swift, easy flight. 
Nesting.— Vest: on ledges of cliffs, or in hollow limbs of the tallest trees. 
Eggs: 3 or 4, creamy-white, buffy, light hazel, or rich cinnamon-brown, in the 
latter cases sometimes plain, otherwise finely sprinkled, spotted and blotched with 
reddish brown or chocolate. Av. size, 2.05 x 1.65 (52.1% 41.9). Season: c. May 
Ist; one brood, 
General Range.—North America at large and south to Chili. Breeds locally 
thruout most of its United States range. 
Range in Washington.—Not common resident thruout the State, giving 
place to F. p. pealet at least upon West Coast. Local range chiefly determined 
by presence of suitable cliffs overlooking water. 
Authorities.— ? Orn. Com. Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. VII, 1837, 193 (“from 
the Columbia River”). Falco nigriceps, Cassin, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., Vol IX., 
1858, p. 8 (part?) T. L+2. Ra. D*. B; E. 
Specimens.—lrov. B. 
THE name Duck Hawk is really a tribute to the skill and prowess of this 
highly endowed bird ; but it is belittling, nevertheless, to institute a comparison, 
however remote, between the noble Peregrine and the multitudinous “Hen 
Hawk” of the vulgar conception. This is the PEREGRINE FALCON, if 
you please, the American bird being not different, save for a somewhat whiter 
breast (which only enhances his beauty ) from the “falcon gentil’” of song and 
story, the most courageous, the most spirited of all birds of prey. Like the 
Prairie Falcon, it secures an intended victim either by striking it from above 
and bearing it down to earth by its acquired momentum, or else by snatching 
it from the ground with incredible swiftness. Many stories are told of its 
seizing and making off with wounded game from under the very nose of the 
hunter; and it is especially fearless in its pursuit of wild ducks, which it is said 
to follow systematically for days at a time during the migrations. 
It is undeniable that chickens occasionally fall victims to this dark corsair, 
but Bendire is of opinion that the Falcon rather disdains such stupid quarry, 
and is sure that they sometimes engage in the pursuit of poultry from sheer 
mischief without intention of harm. Certainly the Peregrine need not deny 
himself any luxury which his appetite craves, and young meteors would be 
quite in his line if they were only a little more juicy. 
The Peregrines are not common in eastern Washington, being largely 
supplanted by F. mexicanus; and no instances of their nesting east of the 
mountains have come to our attention, altho they undoubtedly do so, In flight 
they may be distinguished by greater size and darker color, as well as by a 
habit of rearing and plunging. This characteristic motion consists of four or 
five strong strokes which send the bird forward and upward, after which it 
nearly closes its wings and makes a rolling plunge down to its original level, 
and repeats as before. 
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