Description: The American peregrine falcon is a medium-sized raptor, total length
41 - 51 cm (16 - 20 in.). Adults have a dark gray back and crown, dark bars or streaks on a pale chest and abdomen, and heavy malar (cheek) stripes on the face. Young birds, prior to first molt, are brownish above and underparts streaked vertically with brown. Nesting season from March to June; clutch size 3 - 4 eggs; incubation approximately 33 days; only 2 - 3 chicks hatch and fledge 42 days later.
Diet: Peregrines prey almost exclusively on medium-sized birds (pigeons, doves, ducks, swifts, and others), and occasionally on bats. It hunts for its food by diving after the prey and catching it mid-air.
Habitat: Peregrines inhabit mixed conifer, pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, lowland riparian, and grassland habitats, as well as agricultural and urban areas. Nests are shallow hollows in soil, rock ledges, small caves on high cliffs, old raptor nests, or tree cavities. These falcons also are known to nest on various man-made structures within the
Las Vegas Valley.
Range: Known throughout the southern half of North America. In Clark County, Nevada, known from the Spring Mountains, Desert National Wildlife Range, Logandale, Overton State Wildlife Management Area, and Newberry Mountains. Known to nest in the Black Mountains, Lake Mead area, and within the Las Vegas Valley area.
Special Remarks: The American peregrine falcon was removed from the Federal list
of endangered species on August 25, 1999; the species will be monitored for at least 13 years.