146 
FA LCONI FORMES 
of a sandy, coloured bird, and the underparts may approach a solid brown, relieved by 
feather-edge stripes of cream to rufous-buff, instead of white or cream ground, with sparse 
brown spots or stripes. 
The adult is distinctly slaty colour on the back, lightest 
on rump, darkest to nearly black on head and tail tip — 
colours that never occur on the Prairie Falcon. The faces 
of these two falcons are distinctive, with a dark bar down 
each side of the face from the gape, a detail that can be 
seen for considerable distance. The first primary, when 
full grown, is usually longer than the third, sometimes 
equal to it, but very rarely shorter. 
Field Marks. Recognized as a falcon by sharp, tri- 
angular wings, fairly long tail seldom spread in flight, rapid 
wing beat without sailing, and wings descending on the down 
stroke as far as they ascend on the up beat (Figure 215). 
The note when agitated is a rapid repetition of a harsh 
“Kack-kack-Kack-etc. ,, Hardly distinguished from the 
Prairie Falcon by size, outline, or action, but of stronger, 
darker coloration, nearly black above instead of sandy in 
adult, and the dark predominating in the underparts of 
the juvenile. In flight the underwing surface is of general 
uniform tint without any decidedly differentiated masses 
of colour’. 
Figure 215 
Peregrine Falcon. 
Showing characteristic wing action 
and outline in flight. 
Nesting. On cliff ledges, but not under shelter of strong overhangs, or in clefts; 
and always (?) in the immediate vicinity of water. 
Distribution.. The greater part of the northern hemisphere, south in winter to Africa 
and South America. In Canada, across the continent north to the Arctic Islands, nesting 
wherever there are steep cliffs in the vicinity of water. On migration, more common 
about water than elsewhere. 
SUBSPECIES. The American form of the Peregrine Falcon, the Duck Hawk 
(le Faucon pelerin d’Amerique) Falco peregrinus anatum, is separated from the Old W orld 
representatives of the species by small details of colour. There is another race, Peale’s 
Falcon (le Faucon pelerin de Peale) Falco peregrinus pealei, from the northwest coast of 
Queen Charlotte Islands and northward, that is distinguished by its average darker colour. 
The Peregrine Falcon was, next, to the Gyrfalcon, the most desirable 
hunting hawk of the falconers of old, and is still used for this purpose by 
a few enthusiasts in the Old World, who keep up ancient traditions. In 
our imagination it is still associated with royal functions and mediaeval 
surroundings. Though of very wide distribution, it is nowhere common, 
and usually nothing more than a rare and picturesque visitor. 
Economic Status. The size of the prey that this bird can take is 
remarkable. Even the Mallard is often struck down and successfully 
brought to land to be eaten. Near one nest the writer found the remains 
of several full-grown Ruffed Grouse, which must have been carried to it, but 
on the prairies Franklin’s Ctull seems to be its favourite prey. An examin- 
ation of the stomach contents of 16 specimens gave the following results: 
7 contained poultry or game-birds; 9, other birds; 1, mice; and 2, insects. 
It is one of the few large hawks that show a preference for feathered, over 
furred, food. Fortunately for itself, it is as wary as it is spirited, and 
rarely comes close to man’s residence or his poultry yards. Its favourite 
hunting grounds are the mud-flats frequented by shore birds, or the marshes 
where ducks congregate. An accomplished killer of wild fowl, the Peregrine 
is a thorough sportsman in its hunting, and captures its game by direct, 
irresistible attack, or straight pursuit, instead of craft surprise, and, as a 
sportsman and an historical character, can claim some indulgence from 
human rivals. There should be enough game in the country to support so 
picturesque a character without arousing the jealousy of other hunters. 
