Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 



Distribution: Breeds or formerly bred in North America from western Alaska east to eastern 



Labrador and south, in the west along the coast and interior mountains and breaks, and in the 



east in the Appalachian Mountains, to northern Mexico. Widespread but rare and local 



during the breeding season in Montana (Bergeron et al. 1992); formerly bred in the Black 



Hills, South Dakota (S.D. Omithol. Union 1991). 

 Habitat Use: Closely associated with water and tall cliffs, which serve as nest and perch sites 



(Call 1978). Hunts almost exclusively for birds, typically in relatively open terrain 



(Johnsgard 1990). 

 Nest Sites: Usually a shallow scrape on cliff ledges (Call 1978). Cliffs used for nesting often 



exceed 30 m in height. 

 Breeding Phenology: Eggs laid in early April, with young fledging in June (Call 1978). 

 Status: Could potentially reestablish in low numbers in the Sioux District and adjacent areas. 



There is one historical breeding record for 1925 in the Slim Buttes of Harding County, South 



Dakota (see Appendix 3). Increasing throughout western North America (White 1994). 



U.S.F.S. Endangered Status; U.S.F.W.S. LE (Endangered). 

 Natural Heritage Program rank: G4; S1S2B, SZN in Montana, SXB,SZN in South Dakota. 



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