Peregrine falcon

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a medium-sized falconid, 34–58 cm long with a 74–120 cm wingspan; females exceed males by up to 30 per cent, weighing 700–1,500 g against 330–1,000 g. Adults are blue-grey to slate above and barred white below, with a black crown and malar stripe. It occurs on every continent except Antarctica, nesting on cliffs and coasts and increasingly in cities and on bridges. Medium-sized birds are pursued in stoops exceeding 320 km/h, 389 km/h being recorded. The IUCN assesses it Least Concern.