EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK BIRDING TOUR: FALCON - PEREGRINE and KESTREL

The peregrine falcon is a SERIOUS bird of prey with blue-gray wings, a dark back, buff colored spotted underside and white face with a black tear stripe on its cheeks. It also has a hooked beak and forceful yellow talons. This falcon is the fastest flying bird in the world – its able to dive at 200 miles per hour - catching its prey - usually other birds or bats - in mid-air. It is most often seen along the beaches or of Everglades National Park perched high on a dead tree as seen here. Its population has seen increases in its numbers and it has also moved into the residential and urban areas of South Florida and can occasionally be seen hunting near backyard bird feeders, including my own.

The American Kestrel - the smallest of the falcons is another TOUGH bird. Despite its diminutive size, it is a fierce predator. While it can most often be seen in the winter here, hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, perched on wires along the road, it also has adapted to the wet world of Everglades National Park and also forages on frogs and other amphibians and small reptiles in the marshes and swamps. Because of its size, it is predated on by the larger falcons and other raptors so is always on high alert. To go back to Bird List, click here.