peregrine falcon

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FOREIGN BIRDS ON MY CANVAS # 1 .... PEREGRINE FALCON... WATERCOLOUR ... 7INCH*9INCH ... 2014 ... The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache". As is typical of bird-eating raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, females being considerably larger than males. The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. The peregrine falcon has a body length of 34 to 58 centimetres (13–23 in) and a wingspan from 74 to 120 centimetres (29–47 in). The male and female have similar markings and plumage, but as in many birds of prey the peregrine falcon displays marked reverse sexual dimorphism in size, with the female measuring up to 30% larger than the male. Males weigh 330 to 1,000 grams (0.73–2.20 lb) and the noticeably larger females weigh 513 to 1,500 grams (1.131–3.307 lb). In most subspecies, males weigh less than 700 grams (1.5 lb) and females weigh more than 800 grams (1.8 lb), with cases of females weighing about 50% more than their male breeding mates not uncommon. The standard linear measurements of peregrines are: the wing chord measures 26.5–39 cm (10.4–15.4 in), the tail measures 13–19 cm (5.1–7.5 in) and the tarsus measures 4.5 to 5.6 cm (1.8 to 2.2 in) The peregrine falcon feeds almost exclusively on medium-sized birds such as pigeons and doves, waterfowl, songbirds, and waders. The peregrine falcon became an endangered species because of the use of organochlorine pesticides, especially DDT, during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.[INFO:WIKIPEDIA]