peregrine falcon

A swift-flying bird of prey (Falco peregrinus) having gray and white plumage. It is found worldwide and is much used in falconry. Also called duck hawk.

[Middle English, translation of Medieval Latin falcō peregrīnus (so called because they were caught in passage rather than taken from the nest as were eyas falcons).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

peregrine falcon

(Animals) a falcon, Falco peregrinus, occurring in most parts of the world, having a dark plumage on the back and wings and lighter underparts. See also duck hawk

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

per′egrine fal′con

a cosmopolitan falcon, Falco peregrinus, that feeds on birds taken in flight.

[1350–1400]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

peregrine falcon - a widely distributed falcon formerly used in falconry

Falco peregrinus, peregrine

falcon - diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight

Falco, genus Falco - a genus of Falconidae

falcon-gentil, falcon-gentle - female falcon especially a female peregrine falcon

Translations

Wanderfalke

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The raptor was identified as a peregrine falcon by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds charity.

Feathers fly as falcon wings it with a pigeon

Air sac nematode (Serratospiculum tendo) infection in an Austral peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus cassini) in Argentina.

Air sac nematode (Serratospiculum tendo) infection in an Austral peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus cassini) in Argentina

A RARE peregrine falcon was shot dead with an air rifle at a reservoir.

Rare falcon shot dead at lake

Tests reveal poison killed tragic falcon TOXICOLOGY reports have confirmed a peregrine falcon died after coming into contact with a banned poison.

Tests reveal poison killed tragic [...]

1 / 4 Hunter becomes the hunted -- Felipe Massa chased down by a peregrine falcon behind the wheel of the Gen2 car outside of Ad Diriyah.

Formula E's Felipe Massa races 'fastest animal on planet' in Saudi Arabia

A COUPLE'S peregrine falcon has gone missing after it was frightened by 'dive-bombing' crows during a training flight.

Couple's appeal after treasured bird goes missing

ITS beak and giant yellow claws tell you all you need to know about the hunting skills of the peregrine falcon - especially when you see one in the hands of a caring RSPCA Inspector.

Sad end for peregrine

Once on the Endangered Species List and extirpated in Illinois from 1951 until 1986, the peregrine falcon population is now past historic levels.

Peregrine falcon expert, author to speak at program in Crystal Lake

Described as the fastest flying bird, the peregrine falcon is a raptor and able to dive at 200 miles per hour.

Six endangered falcons recovered from DHA flat

High above the Niagara River, DEC Wildlife Technician Jacquie Walters holds a 26-day-old peregrine falcon chick while its mother watches closely.

Banding Peregrines

A PAIR of peregrine falcon chicks have just hatched - in the perhaps unlikely setting of Cardiff city centre.

Peregrine falcons take time to hatch chicks at City Hall

While the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is well known as a permanent resident in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas (Van Tyne and Sutton, 1937; Bent, 1938; Hunt and Rogers, 1973; Wauer, 1973; Oberholser, 1974; USFWS, 1984; Lockwood, 2001; McKinney 2005), few nesting records exist in the central Texas area.

New nesting record of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Central Texas