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Peregrine falcon

Last updated: 15 February 2011

In this clip from Iolo's Welsh Safari, Iolo goes in search of a peregrine falcon nest and undertakes a spot of abseling in order to get a closer look and help install a web cam.

Peregrine falcons are a large, powerful and fast bird of prey with a recorded, 'stoop' diving flight of more than 200 mph - making them the fastest animal in the world.

Having been endangered by poisoning, methods of farming, reduction in habitats and egg collectors - the peregrine is now back on the increase, and is even colonising urban areas such as Cardiff and Wrexham.

The bird is recognisable with a blueish-grey (male) or speckled brown (female) back, black cap and moustache, white face and pointed wings over a metre in length. The female is larger than the male.

Its normal habitat includes cliff faces such as those at South Stack, mountains and islands, but in recent years, tall buildings with covered ledges have provided new habitats.

You'll often find peregrine hunting around estuaries in Wales during the winter months when easy pickings are to be had amongst the flocks of wading birds.

In Cardiff, a pair regularly at City Hall.

Peregrine facts from RSPB

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  • Peregrines are the fastest animals in the world and have been recorded at speeds over 200 miles an hour, approximately three times as fast as a cheetah.
  • The peregrine is the largest of the British breeding falcons. It is 38-48 cm long, and its wingspan is 95-110 cm.
  • The female is considerably larger than the male. The upper parts are dark blue-grey, and the under parts are pale with fine, dark bars. The head has a black 'hood' with black moustache-like markings on the face. Juvenile birds are browner and heavily streaked below
  • Peregrines will pair for several years and may live up to 10 years old. The oldest on record was 15 years and 6 months old.
  • Both adult birds tend the young, which take their first flight after 5 or 6 weeks
  • Peregrines feed on medium sized birds, which they catch in high-speed aerial stoops - although they only make a kill 20% of the time.
  • Peregrine numbers crashed in the 1960s due to the impact of pesticides but have now increased to around 1,500 breeding pairs in the UK.

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