LC
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Falco peregrinus (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) was previously split as F. peregrinus and F. pelegrinoides following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2014 Least Concern
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency low
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 413,000,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 455,000,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 100000-499999 mature individuals poor suspected 2021
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 6 years - - -

Population justification: Partners in Flight Science Committee (2020) estimate the population in the USA/ Canada to be c.72,000 individuals. The North African population is estimated to be 2,290-2,900 pairs (Garrido et al. in prep.). The European population is estimated at 16,100-31,100 pairs, which equates to 32,200-62,100 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.). Europe forms approximately 13% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 248,000-478,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. The population is therefore placed in the band 100,000-499,999 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The overall trend is suspected to be increasing following the ban on DDT in the 1970s. This species has undergone a large and statistically significant increase over the last 40 years in North America (2,600% increase over 40 years, equating to a 127% increase per decade; data from Breeding Bird Survey and/or Christmas Bird Count: Butcher and Niven 2007). Note, however, that these surveys cover less than 50% of the species's range in North America. Data from COSEWIC (2017), which provides better coverage of northern populations than the Breeding Bird Survey or Christmas Bird Count, also suggests that there has been a significant large increase in this area (Partners In Flight 2021). In Europe the population size is estimated to be increasing (BirdLife International in prep.). The population in the Arctic region is estimated to be stable (Franke et al. 2019). The overall trend in North Africa is thought to be stable, although there may be some local declines (Garrido et al. in prep.).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes yes
Albania extant native yes
Algeria extant native yes
Andorra extant native yes
Angola extant native
Anguilla (to UK) extant native
Antigua and Barbuda extant native
Argentina extant native
Armenia extant native yes
Aruba (to Netherlands) extant native
Australia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bahamas extant native
Bahrain extant native yes yes
Bangladesh extant native
Barbados extant native
Belarus extant native yes
Belgium extant native yes yes
Belize extant native yes
Benin extant native
Bermuda (to UK) extant native
Bhutan extant native
Bolivia extant native
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (to Netherlands) extant native
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
Botswana extant native
Brazil extant native
Brunei extant native
Bulgaria extant native yes yes
Burkina Faso extant native
Burundi extant vagrant
Cambodia extant native
Cameroon extant native
Canada extant native yes yes
Cape Verde extant native
Cayman Islands (to UK) extant native
Central African Republic extant native
Chad extant native
Chile extant native
China (mainland) extant native yes
Christmas Island (to Australia) extant vagrant
Colombia extant native
Comoros extant native
Congo extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native
Costa Rica extant native
Côte d'Ivoire extant native
Croatia extant native yes
Cuba extant native
Curaçao (to Netherlands) extant native
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant native yes
Denmark extant native yes yes
Djibouti extant native
Dominica extant native
Dominican Republic extant native
Ecuador extant native
Egypt extant native yes
El Salvador extant native
Equatorial Guinea extant native
Eritrea extant native
Estonia extant native yes
Eswatini extant native
Ethiopia extant native
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) extant native
Faroe Islands (to Denmark) extant vagrant
Fiji extant native yes
Finland extant native yes yes
France extant native yes yes
French Guiana extant native
Gabon extant native
Gambia extant native
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes yes
Ghana extant native
Gibraltar (to UK) extant native yes
Greece extant native yes yes
Greenland (to Denmark) extant native yes
Grenada extant native
Guadeloupe (to France) extant native yes
Guam (to USA) extant native yes
Guatemala extant native
Guinea extant native
Guinea-Bissau extant native
Guyana extant native
Haiti extant native
Honduras extant native
Hong Kong (China) extant native yes
Hungary extant native yes
Iceland extant vagrant
India extant native yes yes
Indonesia extant native yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes yes yes
Iraq extant native yes yes
Ireland extant native yes
Israel extant native yes
Italy extant native yes yes
Jamaica extant native yes
Japan extant native yes
Jordan extant native yes yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Laos extant native
Latvia extant native yes yes
Lebanon extant native yes yes
Lesotho extant native
Liberia extant native
Libya extant native
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Lithuania extant native yes
Luxembourg extant native yes
Macao (China) extant native
Madagascar extant native
Malawi extant native
Malaysia extant native yes
Maldives extant vagrant
Mali extant native
Malta extant native yes
Martinique (to France) extant native
Mauritania extant native
Mauritius extant vagrant
Mayotte (to France) extant native
Mexico extant native
Micronesia, Federated States of extant native yes
Moldova extant native yes yes
Mongolia extant native
Montenegro extant native yes
Montserrat (to UK) extant native
Morocco extant native
Mozambique extant native
Myanmar extant native yes
Namibia extant native
Nepal extant native yes
Netherlands extant native yes
New Caledonia (to France) extant native yes
Nicaragua extant native
Niger extant native
Nigeria extant native
North Korea extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Northern Mariana Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Norway extant native yes yes
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native yes
Palau extant native yes
Palestine extant native yes
Panama extant native
Papua New Guinea extant native yes
Paraguay extant native
Peru extant native
Philippines extant native yes
Poland extant native yes yes
Portugal extant native yes
Puerto Rico (to USA) extant native
Qatar extant native yes yes
Romania extant native yes yes
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes
Rwanda extant native
Samoa extant vagrant
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native
Serbia extant native yes
Seychelles extant vagrant
Sierra Leone extant native
Singapore extant native
Sint Maarten (to Netherlands) extant native
Slovakia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes yes
Solomon Islands extant native
Somalia extant native
South Africa extant native
South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands extant native
South Korea extant native
South Sudan extant native yes yes
Spain extant native yes
Sri Lanka extant native yes
St Barthelemy (to France) extant native
St Kitts and Nevis extant native
St Lucia extant native
St Martin (to France) extant native yes
St Pierre and Miquelon (to France) extant native yes
St Vincent and the Grenadines extant native
Sudan extant native
Suriname extant native
Sweden extant native yes yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Syria extant native yes yes
Taiwan, China extant native
Tajikistan extant native yes
Tanzania extant native
Thailand extant native yes
Timor-Leste extant native yes
Togo extant native
Trinidad and Tobago extant native
Tunisia extant native
Türkiye extant native yes
Turkmenistan extant native yes
Turks and Caicos Islands (to UK) extant native
Uganda extant native
Ukraine extant native yes yes
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes
United Kingdom extant native yes
United States Minor Outlying Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Uruguay extant native yes
USA extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes
Vanuatu extant native yes
Venezuela extant native
Vietnam extant native
Virgin Islands (to UK) extant native yes
Virgin Islands (to USA) extant native yes
Western Sahara extant native
Yemen extant native yes yes
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Armenia Meghri
Austria Northern Kalkalpen
Austria Ötscher-Dürrenstein
Austria Styrian Enns valley
Bulgaria Central Balkan
Bulgaria Dobrostan
Bulgaria Kotlenska Mountain
Bulgaria Pirin
Bulgaria Rila
Bulgaria Trigrad-Mursalitsa
Bulgaria Vrachanski Balkan
Bulgaria Western Balkan
Cape Verde Branco Islet Integral Natural Reserve
Cape Verde Central mountain range of Ilha de São Nicolau
Cape Verde Ilhéus do Rombo
Cape Verde Serra do Pico da Antónia
Croatia Kornati National Park and Telascica Nature Park
Croatia Kvarner Islands
Croatia Middle Dalmatian Islands and Peljesac Penninsula
Croatia Mount Velebit
Croatia Offshore Islands
Cyprus Akamas and Agia Aikaterini – Agia Paraskevi Gorges
Cyprus Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs
Cyprus Ezousa Valley and Cliffs
Cyprus Pentadaktylos Mountains
Cyprus Xeros Valley and Hanoutaris Cliffs
Czechia Broumovsko
Czechia Labské pískovce sandstones
Denmark Klinteskoven
Finland Pöyrisjärvi wilderness
France Arrière Côte de Dijon et de Beaune
France Golfe de Porto, presqu'île de Scandola et golfe de Galeria
France Gorges de la Dordogne
France Gorges de la Dourbie et causses avoisinants
France Gorges de la Frau et Belestat
France Gorges de la Truyère
France Gorges du Tarn et de la Jonte
France Haut Giffre
France Haute chaîne du Jura: défilé de l'écluse, Etournel et Mont Vuache
France Haute Cize : Pic d'Errozate et Forêt d'Orion
France Haute Soule : massif de la Pierre-St-Martin.
France Hautes Corbières
France Hautes Vallées d'Aspe et d'Ossau
France Hauts Plateaux du Vercors et Forêt des Coulmes
France Les Bauges
France Massif des Vosges: Hautes Vosges
France Massif du Canigou-Carança
France Massif du Madres et Mont Coronat
France Minervois
France Montagne des Frêtes et plateau des Glières
France Parc National de la Vanoise
France Parc National des Cévennes
France Parc National des Ecrins
France Parc National du Mercantour
France Zones rupestres du Tarasconnais et massif d'Aston
Germany Altmühltal above Eichstätt and Wellheimer Trockental
Germany Ammergau mountains
Germany Aper Tief
Germany Bayerischer Wald National Park with Arber region and Hohem Bogen
Germany Blockland - lower Wümme valley - Westliches Hollerland
Germany Central Black Forest
Germany Coast and lagoons of Western Pomerania
Germany Dahner Felsenland
Germany Döberitzer Heide
Germany Elbe marshes between Stade and Otterndorf
Germany Emsaue (Rietberger Emsniederung - Steinhorster Becken)
Germany Greifswalder Bodden
Germany Harz National Park
Germany Hessian Rhine alluvion
Germany High alps of Allgäu
Germany Hoher Meißner/Plesse-Konstein
Germany Knüll
Germany Lahn slopes
Germany Lower Rhine
Germany Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park
Germany Middle Rhine valley
Germany Military training area east and west of Jüterbog
Germany Mittlere Schwäbische Alb with Albuch, Härtsfeld and Schmiechener See
Germany Nahe valley
Germany Neckar valley near Hirschhorn (HP)
Germany North-eastern lower Harz mountains
Germany Northern Black Forest
Germany Rheingau
Germany Rocks and slope forests in the Altmühl and Danube valleys
Germany Sächsische Schweiz National Park
Germany Sandstone rocks of Untermain
Germany South-eastern Alb and Upper Danube valley
Germany Southern Black Forest
Germany Stechlin
Germany Uckermark lake region
Germany Unteres Eichsfeld
Germany Upper Harz mountains
Germany Vesser valley Biosphere Reserve
Germany Vogelsberg
Germany Wahner Heide
Germany Weserstaustufe Schlüsselburg
Greece Ios, Sikinos and Folegandros islands
Greece Kalymnos, Telendos, Kalolimnos islands and surrounding islets
Greece Kythira island
Greece Lefka Ori mountains, Crete
Greece Mount Parnassos
Greece Mount Zakrou, Crete
Greece Paros and Antiparos islands and surrounding islets
Ireland Wicklow Mountains
Italy Abruzzo National Park
Italy Alto Garda Bresciano
Italy Asinara island, Piana island and Stintino peninsula
Italy Ausoni and Aurunci mountains
Italy Cape Caccia and Conte port
Italy Carniche pre-Alps
Italy Circeo National Park and Pontine islands
Italy Cuglieri coast
Italy Eolie islands
Italy Ernici and Simbruini mountains
Italy Gargano Promontory and Capitanata Wetlands
Italy Gran Paradiso
Italy Gran Sasso and Laga mountains
Italy Lepini mountains
Italy Madonie
Italy Maiella, Pizzi and Frentani mountains
Italy Marchesato and River Neto
Italy Maritime Alps
Italy Matese
Italy Mount Cervati
Italy Mount Cofano, Cape San Vito and Mount Sparagio
Italy Mount Grappa
Italy Nebrodi
Italy Northern Sardinia
Italy Orosei Gulf, Supramonte and Gennargentu
Italy Pollino and Orsomarso
Italy Sibillini mountains
Italy Sicani mountains, Rocca Busambra and Ficuzza forest
Italy Sirente, Velino and Duchessa mountains
Italy Stelvio National Park
Italy Tarvisio forest and Giulie pre-alps
Italy Tavolara archipelago, Cape Ceraso and Cape Figari
Italy Tuscan Archipelago
Italy Val d'Ossola
Netherlands Biesbosch
Netherlands Grevelingen
Netherlands Haringvliet
Netherlands Markermeer & IJmeer
Netherlands Oosterschelde
Netherlands Rijntakken
Netherlands Susteren - Roermond
Netherlands Wadden Sea
Netherlands Westerschelde & Saeftinghe
Poland Karkonosze Mountains
Poland Lower Odra river valley
Poland Pieniny Mountains
Poland Tatra mountains
Portugal Berlenga and Farilhões islands
Portugal Cabo Espichel
Portugal Gerês mountains
Portugal Montesinho and Nogueira mountains
Portugal Ponta da Piedade
Portugal Sabôr and Maçãs
Portugal Serra de Penha Garcia e Campina de Toulões
Portugal Serras do Alvão e Marão
Portugal South-west coast of Portugal
Portugal Upper River Douro and Águeda valleys
Romania Almăjului Mountains - Locvei
Romania Caraş gorge - Semenic Mountains
Romania Domogled - Cernei valley
Romania Igniş Mountains - Creasta Cocoşului
Romania Metaliferi Mountains
Romania Nerei gorge - Beuşniţa
Romania Padiş - Vlădeasa mountain
Romania Piatra Şoimului - Scorţeni - Gârleni
Romania Retezat Mountains
Romania Trascău Mountains
Russia (European) Kraka Mountain
Russia (European) Mountain valley of Zilim river
Russia (European) Ponoiskaya depression
Russia (European) Ufimskoye plateau
Russia (European) Uryuk
Russia (European) Vaygach island
Serbia Derdap gorge
Serbia Jerma
Serbia Kucaj-Beljanica
Serbia Sicevo gorge
Slovakia Chočské hills
Slovakia Malá Fatra
Slovakia Slovenský raj
Slovakia Strážovské hills
Slovakia Tatry
Slovakia Veľká Fatra
Slovenia Grintovci
Slovenia Julijci
Slovenia Kočevsko
Slovenia Rocky faces of Posavsko hribovje
Slovenia Vipavski rob
Spain Alto Lozoya-La Pedriza
Spain Archipelago of Cabrera
Spain Arribes del Duero-Fermoselle
Spain Ayllón mountain range
Spain Babia-Somiedo
Spain Belagua-Ansó-Hecho
Spain Burete, Cambrón and Espuña mountain ranges
Spain Cabras, Aljibe and Montecoche mountain range
Spain Cala Salada - Illa d'en Calders
Spain Canyons on the middle section of the Cabriel river
Spain Cape Busto-Luanco
Spain Cardó, Tivissa and Llabería mountains
Spain Cazorla and Segura mountain ranges
Spain Cortados del Jarama
Spain Cuenca mountain ranges
Spain Espadán mountain range
Spain Gorges of Iregua, Leza and Jubera
Spain Guara mountain range
Spain La Losa-Orduña (Salvada mountain range)
Spain Leyre, Illón and San Miguel mountain ranges
Spain María mountain range-Los Vélez
Spain Marina mountain ranges
Spain Montes Aquilanos range
Spain Montsant and Prades mountains
Spain Montsech and Montgai mountains
Spain Moratalla mountain range
Spain Mountain range and saltpans at Cabo de Gata
Spain Mountains of Barcelona
Spain Muela mountain range and Cape Tiñoso
Spain North and east coasts of Minorca and island of Aire
Spain Obarenes mountains
Spain Pass of Beceite-Turmell mountain
Spain Peña de Francia
Spain Pila mountain range
Spain Prelittoral mountain ranges of Granada
Spain Ravines and pinewoods in central Minorca
Spain Ricote and Nevela mountain ranges
Spain Río Huebra-Arribes del Duero
Spain Torrecilla and Gigante mountain ranges
Spain Tramuntana mountains
Spain Upper Ebro and Rudrón canyons
Spain Upper sections of the rivers Tajo and Tajuña
Spain Urdaibai - Matxitxako
Spain Valdegovía-Arcena mountain range
Sweden Kullaberg
Switzerland Central Valais between Sierre and Visp
Switzerland Jura mountains of Baselland - Solothurn
Switzerland Pre-alpine region of Pays d'Enhaut
Switzerland Upper Toggenburg and Säntis
United Kingdom Antrim Hills
United Kingdom Berwyn
United Kingdom Bowland Fells
United Kingdom Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands
United Kingdom Elenydd - Mallaen
United Kingdom Exmoor Coast and Heaths
United Kingdom Galloway Forest Park
United Kingdom Glannau Aberdaron and Ynys Enlli
United Kingdom Grampian Mountains
United Kingdom Migneint - Arenig - Dduallt
United Kingdom Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands
United Kingdom North Pennine Moors
United Kingdom Pembrokeshire Cliffs
United Kingdom South Pennine and Peak District Moors
United Kingdom West Penwith Coast and Moors
Yemen Wadi al-Birayn

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Urban Areas suitable resident
Desert Hot suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Temperate suitable resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Grassland Tundra suitable breeding
Marine Coastal/Supratidal Sea Cliffs and Rocky Offshore Islands suitable breeding
Marine Intertidal Mud Flats and Salt Flats suitable resident
Marine Intertidal Rocky Shoreline suitable resident
Marine Intertidal Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable resident
Marine Intertidal Sandy Shoreline and/or Beaches, Sand Bars, Spits, Etc suitable resident
Marine Intertidal Shingle and/or Pebble Shoreline and/or Beaches suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major breeding
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Temperate suitable breeding
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha) suitable resident
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 3300 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 4000 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Temperature extremes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects
Energy production & mining Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance Recreational activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance, Reduced reproductive success
Human intrusions & disturbance Work & other activities Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species disturbance
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Pollution Agricultural & forestry effluents - Herbicides and pesticides Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Reduced reproductive success
Pollution Industrial & military effluents - Oil spills Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Utility & service lines Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international
Sport hunting/specimen collecting subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/peregrine-falcon-falco-peregrinus on 24/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 24/11/2024.