Physical Characteristics

Peregrine Falcons are medium sized raptors with a wingspan of 3 - 4 feet and a weight of about 2 pounds. Their backs are slate blue-gray; the undersides are pale under the wing with a barred chest. They have black helmeted heads or black sideburns. There is little difference in coloration between the male and female of the species though there can be variations among individual birds. Immature Peregrines are generally brown with heavily barred undersides.

The peregrine's hooked beak has a notch, which in falconry terms refers to a falcon's tooth that is used for severing the spinal cord of prey. The female is generally referred to as the falcon and is 1/3 bigger than the male, who is referred to as the tiercel. Peregrines
were once called duck hawks in the United States. They have a distinctive cak cak cak sound when agitated and can be heard vocalizing with an e-chup e-chup e-chup to each other. In a dive they are the fastest bird in the world, clocked by skydivers in excess of 200 mph. In level flight, the peregrine moves along at about 80 miles per hour.

There is normally only one pair of Peregrines living on Morro Rock at any given time. They are very possessive of their territory and will fiercely drive off intruders. Any hawks, eagles, or vultures that wander by can expect to be harshly evicted from the area. Having said that, the breeding season of 2001 was a surprise; a second pair of Peregrines
nested and raised 3 young.

The peregrine is an efficient predator, feeding almost exclusively on birds and, in some instances, bats. They hunt in the air, flying over small to medium-sized prey. When a bird has been selected, the peregrine dives with dazzling speed, hitting with an impact that often knocks the bird unconscious or kills it immediately. This dive, referred to as a stoop, has been clocked at over 200 miles per hour.

The prey item is scooped up with the peregrine's sharp talons. If the bird is still alive, the peregrine quickly kills it with a bite to the neck. The peregrine carries its catch to a ledge or sometimes, especially if the bird it has killed is heavy, will let it drop to the ground and eat it there. It removes the bird's feathers and tears the flesh with its strong beak. Small prey is sometimes eaten on the wing.

Morro Bay provides a wide variety of habitats for Peregrines to hunt in, including beaches, dunes, mudflats, salt marshes, hills, valleys, and Morro Rock itself. Peregrines
in urban areas may have a diet composed chiefly of pigeons, but the Morro Rock Peregrines have a veritable buffet to choose from.

Peregrines generally mate for life, but a new mate is readily accepted if one dies. The tiercel will show off for the falcon with intricate aerial displays. He also brings her food offerings. Breeding activity on the central coast of California generally begins early to mid-February. However, mated pairs will sometimes copulate throughout the year. These matings are ineffectual; she won't ovulating and he won't be producing semen until early spring. It isn't uncommon for copulation to begin right around the time of winter solstice and this may be a part of courtship to help get the hormones going.

Peregrines nest on cliffs and ledges hundreds of feet high. Here at Morro Rock the Peregrines often choose to nest on the south or southwest side of the Rock. (Urban Peregrines nest on the ledges of tall office buildings and in the towers of bridges.) These nests, called "aerie s," do not contain what we tend to think of as nesting materials. Rather they are "scrapes." The female selects a site then scrapes out an indentation in which to lay her eggs. The falcon will lay up to four eggs. Incubation lasts about 33 days.

During mating and nesting season the tiercel does the hunting, bringing food back to the falcon and the young. Often the food will be passed to the falcon in an aerial food exchange. The tiercel flies in, calling to the falcon. She joins him in the air, flying beneath him. He passes the prey item as she rolls over to take it in her talons. It is a beautiful display of teamwork and aerial acrobatics.

Both Peregrines incubate the eggs, though the female does most of the sitting. The tiercel seems to relish his chance to care for the eggs and sometimes seems to have to be chased off when she is ready to return to the nest.

Baby Peregrines are called "eyasses" and are fierce looking little puffs of white down. They grow quickly and can be seen teetering near the edge of the aerie long before they are ready to fly. They fledge (take to the air) 40 - 45 days after hatching. It is a bit disconcerting to watch as they flap their wings and take that first step away from home. Equally interesting to watch are the first attempts to land. At times the intense grace that is characteristic of the peregrine is evident from the beginning. Other times they are as awkward as big puppies.

With instruction from their parents and a lot of practice, immature Peregrines
begin to hunt at about 9 weeks. This is a great time to observe Peregrines
at Morro Rock. The young are active and very vocal, so are easy to spot. They will maintain their immature plumage for the first year, molting into adult plumage in the spring. They become sexually mature at 3 years of age.

Unfortunately, generally only 50% of all Peregrine Falcons fail to survive their first year. Of those that do survive, the average lifespan is 13-17 years.

By 1965 the American Peregrine Falcon was completely absent in the Eastern United States. In 1972 there were only two pairs known in California, one of which was at Morro Rock. The Peregrine Falcon was declared to be an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1973.

Steve Schubert, former Morro Coast Audubon president, has compiled a history of the peregrine recovery efforts in his fascinating report, The Peregrine Falcons
of Morro Rock - A History. Email him at Steve Schubert to purchase a copy.

Delisted in 1998, the Peregrine Falcon will continue to be observed for a minimum of five years. If, during this period, it becomes evident that the peregrine needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act, it will be relisted. The peregrine is still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of migratory birds, their eggs, parts, and nests except when specifically authorized by the Interior Department, such as in the case of regulated hunting seasons for game birds. The California Endangered Species Act also still protects Peregrine Falcons.

DDT, a pesticide used widely throughout the world since its invention in the 1940's, caused the thinning of the eggshells of Peregrines and other birds. These weakened shells can be broken by the adults while being incubated or may dry out quickly, causing the egg to die. Use of DDT was restricted in the United States in 1972, but residue remains in the environment. DDT is still used in Latin America. Birds who feed there and then migrate into the United States bring this poison to the Peregrines.

Other threats to the peregrine population include the use of myriad contaminants and loss of habitat.

So, what's so great about these birds? Their beauty, fierceness, dazzling speed, grace, and superior flight can thrill a heart and take your breath away. Your spirit soars with them. They are independent and proud, loyal to their mates and young, intelligent and spirited. We who live in Morro Bay share this space with a pair of Peregrine Falcons and are fortunate to be able to make them a part of our lives. It is not an exaggeration to say that people come from all over to world for the opportunity to catch a glimpse of our Peregrines. The Peregrine Falcons are part of what makes Morro Bay such a wonderful place to live and visit.

Not good enough? Why bother to save them? From a purely selfish human standpoint, Peregrines are a barometer of what is wrong with our own environment. Peregrine Falcons are at the top of the food chain. The chemicals we created and spread into the environment almost took them to extinction as it got into their food. Like canaries in coal mines, Peregrines let us know when our environment is polluted and our own survival threatened.