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Wildlife Guide · Worldwide except Antarctica

Falcon

Family Falconidae — ~65 species in genus Falco and related genera

The fastest animals on Earth — precision hunters of sky and cliff.

Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered)
A peregrine falcon with blue-grey upperparts and a black moustache stripe stooping at speed against a cliff backdrop.

Image: Source: Wikimedia Commons — verify license before production

In brief

Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae — roughly 65 species including the peregrine, the fastest animal on Earth at over 320 km/h; most species recovered from DDT declines and are now Least Concern.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae, distinct from hawks and eagles despite similar appearances. Roughly 65 species in the genus Falco range across every continent except Antarctica. The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop. Falcons were nearly wiped out by DDT pesticide in the mid-twentieth century before one of conservation's greatest recoveries. Today most falcon species are Least Concern, though the saker falcon and several island falcons face ongoing threats from habitat loss, trapping for falconry and pesticide use.

320+ km/h

Peregrine falcon stoop speed — fastest animal on Earth

~65

Falcon species worldwide

DDT

Pesticide that nearly extirpated peregrines before ban

Appendix I

CITES listing — peregrine and saker falcon

Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — Falco peregrinus, IUCN Red List — Falco cherrug (saker falcon), BirdLife International — Data Zone .

Falcon: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Falcon
Fastest species Peregrine falcon — 320+ km/h stoop
Species ~65 falcon species worldwide
Kill method Notched beak tooth severs prey spine
Recovery Peregrine restored from near extinction after DDT ban
Falconry trade Illegal trapping threatens saker falcon
CITES Appendix I (peregrine, saker)

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Falcon
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae
Genus Falco (~40 species)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Most species Least Concern. Saker falcon Endangered; Mauritius kestrel recovered from Critically Endangered.
Population
Peregrine falcon: tens of thousands globally; saker falcon: 11,000–30,000 mature individuals
Trend
Increasing for recovered species; decreasing for saker falcon
Assessed
2016 (saker falcon); 2016 (peregrine falcon)
CITES
Appendix I (peregrine, saker)

Key Facts: Falcon

  • The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth — over 320 km/h in a stoop.
  • Falcons belong to Falconidae, separate from hawks and eagles (Accipitridae).
  • DDT pesticide nearly wiped out peregrine falcons before a global recovery programme.
  • Falconry — hunting with trained falcons — is an ancient practice still regulated today.
  • Saker and peregrine falcons are trapped illegally for the Middle Eastern falconry trade.
  • Falcons kill with a notched beak 'tooth' that severs prey vertebrae instantly.

Falcons versus hawks

Falcons belong to Falconidae; hawks and eagles to Accipitridae — convergent evolution produced similar predatory forms from different ancestors. Falcons have a notched beak (the tomial tooth) for severing prey spines, long pointed wings built for speed, and they kill primarily with the beak rather than talons. Hawks kill with talons. Falcons include the peregrine, kestrels, hobbies, merlins and caracaras. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) breeds on every continent except Antarctica, nesting on cliffs, city skyscrapers and bridges.

The peregrine stoop

The peregrine falcon hunts by climbing high and folding its wings into a stoop — a vertical or angled dive exceeding 320 km/h, the fastest recorded speed of any animal. It strikes prey — typically pigeons, ducks and other birds — mid-air with clenched talons, killing on impact. Nictitating membranes protect the eyes during the dive. Peregrines were nearly extirpated in North America and Europe by DDT, which thinned eggshells causing nesting failure. After DDT was banned and captive breeding programmes released thousands of birds, peregrines recovered to Least Concern globally.

Falconry and illegal trade

Falconry — hunting with trained falcons — dates back at least 4,000 years in Mesopotamia and remains a regulated tradition in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe. The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is prized in Arabian falconry and is Endangered, with illegal trapping in Central Asia supplying wealthy buyers. CITES Appendix I protects peregrine and saker falcons. Legal falconry uses captive-bred birds in most countries. Illegal trade remains a significant threat to wild saker and peregrine populations in Central Asia and the Mediterranean.

Conservation successes and ongoing threats

The peregrine falcon recovery from near extinction is among conservation's greatest achievements — from fewer than 400 breeding pairs in the eastern United States in 1975 to over 3,000 today. Most falcon species are now Least Concern. Ongoing threats include habitat loss, rodenticide and pesticide poisoning, wind turbine collisions and illegal trapping for falconry. Protecting nesting cliffs, regulating falconry trade and reducing pesticide use benefit falcons worldwide.

What WARN Does

WARN publishes this falcon guide as free public education. The peregrine recovery from DDT extinction shows that species can rebound when the cause of decline is removed — a message relevant to conservation worldwide.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

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How does the falcon compare?

Falcon vs Hawk →

Falcon: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest animal on Earth?
The peregrine falcon, which reaches over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop — a vertical dive onto prey. This is the fastest recorded speed of any animal.

What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?
Falcons (Falconidae) have pointed wings, a notched beak tooth and kill with the beak. Hawks (Accipitridae) have broader wings, kill with talons and belong to a separate family.

Are falcons endangered?
Most falcon species are Least Concern after recovery from DDT declines. The saker falcon is Endangered; the Mauritius kestrel recovered from four individuals through intensive conservation.

What is falconry?
Falconry is hunting with trained birds of prey — a tradition at least 4,000 years old. Modern falconry is regulated and typically uses captive-bred birds. Illegal wild trapping threatens saker falcons.

What do falcons eat?
Falcons are carnivorous birds of prey that hunt other birds and small mammals in flight. The peregrine falcon stooping at over 320 km/h — the fastest recorded speed of any animal — strikes prey with clenched talons, then kills using a notched beak tooth that severs the spine. Roughly 65 falcon species worldwide feed mainly on birds from pigeons to shorebirds, though larger falcons also take rabbits and rodents in open country.

Where do falcons live?
Falcons range across every continent except Antarctica, nesting on cliffs, skyscrapers, bridges and quarries wherever prey is available. Peregrine falcons recovered from DDT-driven near extinction to nest on urban ledges worldwide. Roughly 65 species occupy diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical forest edges. Most are Least Concern today, though the saker falcon is Endangered and faces illegal trapping for falconry in Central Asia. CITES lists peregrine and saker on Appendix I.

Are falcons dangerous?
Wild falcons rarely harm people but will fiercely defend nests and can deliver sharp talon strikes if approached. They are precision predators, not pets. The peregrine's 320+ km/h stoop is directed at prey, not humans. Historical DDT poisoning caused eggshell thinning that nearly wiped out peregrines before recovery after the ban. Today rodenticides, wind turbines and illegal trapping pose greater threats to falcons than falcons pose to people.

How big is a falcon?
Falcon size varies by species. The peregrine falcon — the fastest animal on Earth at over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop — is a medium-large falcon with pointed wings adapted for high-speed pursuit. Among roughly 65 falcon species worldwide, the smallest kestrels may weigh only a few hundred grams, while gyrfalcons and sakers are substantially larger. All share a notched beak tooth used to kill prey after a strike.

How long do falcons live?
A precise wild lifespan for falcons is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae — roughly 65 species including the peregrine, the fastest animal on Earth at over 320 km/h; most species recovered from DDT declines and are now Least Concern. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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