Peregrine Falcons. At first, they seem so harmless, but when you get right down to it they are in fact ruthless killing machines. The facts are undeniable. Peregrine falcons while in stoop – birding language for bullet dive – fly over 200 MPH making them the fastest member of the entire animal kingdom. They have been recorded flying 242 MPH and have specially designed nostrils to keep their lungs from being crushed during dives. Additionally, when murdering, falcons puncture a bird’s wing (WHILE FLYING 200 MPH) to avoid injuring themselves. They are also the world’s most widespread bird of prey covering every non-ice covered landmass on earth except New Zealand. Why peregrine falcons hate New Zealand is not clear and seems like a prudent topic for a future article.
I would like to touch on several categories of video evidence that most excellently illustrate the glory of this majestic bird.
1. Not surprisingly, scientists have taken great interest in the speed and associated physics of the peregrine.
Here you will see a man who tests a peregrine falcon’s speed by dropping it out of an airplane at 15,000 feet then jumping out himself.
Here you will see a real bird’s eye view of a peregrine falcon as it is being an absurd badass
2. Watching a peregrine in the wild take down its prey is a true sight to behold.
That is spectacularly shown here
And you don’t want to mess with its babies.
3. Finally, touching on a topic I will discuss more extensively in future articles, they are phenomenal birds of falconry.
You will note some training here
But there’s nothing like the real thing – OH YEAH PUT THAT PHEASANT DOWWWNNNN!
There is so much to appreciate in the world of birding, and perhaps no bird exemplifies this more than the peregrine. This is why they are the champion of the first ever March Madness of Birds. Congrats, aviary amigo. It is well deserved.
As always, keep your binoculars to the sky.
Goldeneagle Cooper
