Falcons are amazing predators and, in my opinion, the most spectacular aerial predator in the world. They are not the strongest among raptors, but their hunting tactics are truly remarkable. There’s a reason fighter jets are designed after hawks. It’s not just the astonishing speed, but also the way they can spin G-forces that would kill a human.
There are many types of hawks throughout the world and North America. The most common found in North America are the prairie falcon, the American kestrel, the merlin, the gyr falcon, and the infamous peregrine falcon. Kestrels hunt in a different way and do not use diving techniques. The pilgrim is best known for his speed and hunting ability. In my opinion the Gyr falcon, although larger, is as fast as the peregrine.
Hawks mainly feed on other birds such as ducks, pigeons, grouse etc … They fly high in the sky far above their prey and when they are ready to chase they dive into an incredible dive. In the dive they turn in the shape of a corkscrew after their prey. Although the fastest way from one point to another is in a straight line, the falcon dives in this way so as not to lose sight of its prey. The reason is that their eyes are positioned more to the sides of the head, rather than looking straight ahead like humans. They have long, narrow wings built for speed and a long, narrow tail designed for incredible turning ability. They strike their prey at incredible speeds in the air, sometimes a single hit is all it takes to kill. If not, the hawk will quickly gain height again and attack again and again. They are also well known for chasing their prey after the initial attack. Sometimes they strike with their feet and heels open, and other times with their feet closed, making a fist. Either way it is enough to deliver a fatal blow to its prey.
The Peregrine Falcon has been documented to dive at speeds of 232 mph. This 2-pound bird is known to catch prey as large as a 9-pound sage grouse, the largest game bird in North America. In the world of falconry, falconers breed falcons for hunting purposes. The popular falcon to breed is a hybrid, a bird that is half peregrine falcon and half Gyr. Many falconers like to use male birds due to their tenacity, the problem is that the males are smaller than the females and are not large enough to kill the popular grouse. This hybrid bird is perfect for hunting grouse, they get the large size of the Gyr falcon and the tenacity of the peregrine falcon. These hybrids are usually the size of a basking female, but have the personality of a male.
The peregrine falcon appeared to be doomed to extinction due to a chemical pesticide, called DDT, that farmers used on their crops. Eventually the United States banned DDT and since then the basking, along with many other species of birds, have made a full recovery. The pilgrim is common and will even build their nests on ledges of giant buildings that resemble a cliff in large cities. Observe high in the sky for this amazing predator who is truly the jet fighter of the bird world.