Male vs Female Peregrine Falcons: How To Tell The Difference

The peregrine falcon is a well-known and widespread bird of prey found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. In the United States, these magnificent birds are commonly found along the East and West coasts and the Southwest. They also have a breeding corridor along the Rocky Mountains.

Peregrine falcons are solitary for most of the year except for the breeding season. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to observe a mate, you’ve probably wondered how to tell the two apart.

While males and females are similar in color, they have some noticeable differences, mainly in size and breast markings.

In this article, we will discuss the differences between male and female peregrine falcons so that you can more easily tell them apart. The following paragraphs will cover physical and behavioral changes. Read on to discover more!

Close up of a perched peregrine falcon

How to tell if a peregrine falcon is male or female?

Male and female peregrine falcons have similar plumage and can be difficult to tell apart at first glance. While there are some subtle differences in color, gender is easier to identify by size. Female peregrine falcons are significantly larger than males, weighing 50 percent more.

The female appears not only taller than her mate, but also wider, with a larger head and thicker neck. Males are usually smaller and more streamlined. In flight, he will be more agile and aerodynamic.

Male (left) and female (right) peregrine falcons hunting prey

What does a male peregrine falcon look like?

Male peregrine falcons have dark gray-blue plumage on their backs. The head and neck are usually a darker charcoal color. The throat and upper chest of males are usually solid white with occasional brownish gray spots. The chest and belly are usually white with a faint pink tinge, sometimes streaked with gray.

Feathers do not change dramatically from season to season. The most notable difference is the male’s naked parts, which appear brighter during the breeding season.

Exposed parts include the facial skin around the eyes and beak, legs and feet. All of these are bright yellow during the breeding season.

Male Peregrine Falcon in flight

What does a female peregrine falcon look like?

Female peregrines have the same dark gray plumage on the back, neck and head. Throat, chest and underside are reddish beige, not white as in males, and are more clearly marked. The throat has a brown vertical stripe, while the chest and abdomen have distinct dark brown horizontal stripes.

In terms of plumage, the female’s reddish-beige breast marks the biggest difference between her and the male. The facial skin, legs and feet of female peregrine falcons are also dark yellow, which contrasts with the bright yellow of male peregrine falcons during the breeding season.

perched female peregrine falcon

What color is a female peregrine falcon?

The female peregrine falcon has dark blue-gray plumage on the back and a reddish-beige breast and belly. Her breasts are also streaked with brown. In general, females are lighter in color, less white than males, and have more pronounced markings.

What is the female peregrine falcon called?

A female peregrine falcon is called falconwhile males are called Tessel.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon in flight

Are female peregrine falcons bigger than males?

Female peregrine falcons are much larger than males. They generally weigh about two pounds and are 18 to 21 inches long.

Males, on the other hand, weigh about 1.25 pounds and are only 15 to 18 inches long. Overall, females are thicker than males, with wider necks and shoulders.

behavioral difference

Female and male peregrine falcons have some behavioral differences that can help you tell the two apart. Most notably, they call slightly differently and display different behaviors when it comes to nest building and feeding their young.

We discuss these differences in more detail in the following paragraphs.

Female (right) and male (left) perched peregrine falcons

sing and call

The call sets of female and male peregrine falcons are similar. The main difference is the sound frequency. Females have a lower vocal range compared to the higher, more harmonious calls of males. The calls of peregrine falcons can be divided into four categories – click, chip, twittering, and wailing.this click Usually a call to the police. when women give, click click click Faster speed with fewer harmonics.

this chip The call consists of three parts Cool Easy Chip sound. Both sexes use this call, although the exact motivation is unclear. Wild birds seem to take advantage of intruders when they come close to the nest. This was also observed in mating behaviour.When the female makes this call, the chip sounds more like rusha lower, more rounded voice than the male crisp voice.

this chatter very short, often repeated Hee hee hee sound. This call is most often made by males during mating, but can be heard by both sexes when something alarms them.

Wailing is the final call category. This is a long call that repeats or continues. Both sexes use the call in different situations, including during food transfers, mating, territorial defense, or when the male is without a mate.

Females most commonly use food and mating wails. Occasionally, they also emit a territorial defensive (or competitive) wail when threatened.

calling peregrine falcon

life difference

There was no significant difference in lifespan between female and male peregrine falcons. Either sex usually lives to be between 15 and 19 years old.

First-year juvenile falcons are at greater risk, with a 60 percent mortality rate. Once these birds reach adulthood, the threat of predation decreases.

nesting and feeding

When the nesting season begins, the males will usually scrape various ledges before the females choose the final nesting site to lay their eggs. Once she lays her eggs, both males and females participate in the incubation. Overall, the female spent more time at the nest than her mate, with the male providing most of the food.

After the chicks hatch, the female remains in or near the nest during the brooding period. During the first half of the chick period, the male provides food for the female and the young. After about 10 days, the females begin to leave the nest more frequently to hunt and provide food.

A female peregrine falcon looks after her chicks

Can female peregrine falcons raise offspring alone?

A female peregrine may raise her offspring alone. However, her chicks will be at greater risk. Typically, females rely heavily on their mates to provide food regularly during incubation and to provide food continuously for the first 10 days after the eggs hatch.

Raising young alone requires females to often leave the chicks at their most vulnerable. She may succeed if she can always find food near her den.

However, if she has to leave the nest unattended for extended periods of time, predators are likely to find the unattended chick.

Do female peregrine falcons bark?

Female peregrine falcons have a call similar to that of males. When alerting, they make a normal cack call.You may also hear women use chip (or rush) and chirping, which are also variations of sirens.

The wail is the fourth and final call in the female peregrine falcon’s line. Her wail is usually associated with mating and food sharing or transfer.