Description
The peregrine falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey, known for its impressive speed, which can exceed 300 km/h in a dive. Adults have bluish-gray plumage on their upperparts and white plumage streaked with black on their underparts. Its head is characterized by a black cap and a powerful, curved beak. This predator feeds mainly on other birds, which it catches in flight using spectacular hunting techniques. It nests on rocky cliffs but can also settle in urban areas, where it nests on tall buildings.
The Situation in Italian-Speaking Switzerland
After the sharp decline suffered by the peregrine falcon in the 1950s and 1960s due to the widespread use of pesticides, numbers have recovered, and the Swiss population is now on the rise. In Ticino, the first confirmed nesting was recorded in 1986; currently, the Ticino population is estimated at about thirty breeding pairs nesting exclusively on rock faces.
- Falco peregrinus
- Faucon pèlerin
- Wanderfalke
- Falcon pelegrin
- Peregrine Falcon
- 42 cm
- 95–115 cm
