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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Falconidae
  4. ›
  5. Falco
  6. ›
  7. Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Photo · (c) ian_mcallan, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinusTunstall, 1771

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
FALCONIFORMES
Family
Falconidae
Genus
Falco

At a glance

The Peregrine Falcon is a large bird, about 35–50 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
35–50 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Peregrine Falcon look like?

The Peregrine Falcon is a large bird, about 35–50 cm long and weighing 445–1500 g.

The peregrine falcon, also referred to simply as the peregrine, is a bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae known for its speed. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts and a black head. As is typical for bird-eating (avivore) raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males. Historically, the bird has also been known as the "black-cheeked falcon" in Australia, and the "duck hawk" in North America.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
35–50 cm
Weight
445–1500 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Peregrine Falcon?

The Peregrine Falcon is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Peregrine Falcon eat?

The Peregrine Falcon feeds on terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

The BirdUp app

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Peregrine Falcon live in Australia?

The Peregrine Falcon is native to Australia, recorded across 93 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning worldwide.

BreedingWorldwide : widespread

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident

8 regions recorded