What Do Peregrine Falcons Eat? (Full Diet Guide)

peregrine falcon (peregrine falcon) are remarkable birds of prey. Although small in size, they can kill animals much larger than themselves. Peregrine falcons also have one of the fastest flight speeds, known to reach 200 miles per hour. Their speed and agility make these birds extremely skilled hunters. They can catch prey both in the air and on the ground.

Peregrine falcons eat mostly other birds – ranging in size from small songbirds to geese. Pigeons and waterfowl are among the favorite foods of peregrine falcons. They are also known for catching small mammals such as bats or mice. These birds rarely eat insects, much less carrion.

The diet of peregrine falcons in the wild varies widely. Habitat, region and season play an important role in determining what falcons eat. We’ll dive into these details in the next article!

Peregrine falcon eating recently caught prey

What do peregrine falcons eat in the wild?

Typically, peregrine falcons eat a wide variety of birds. Pigeons and waterfowl are preferred prey – shorebirds are common if falcons live in coastal areas. They also often feed on small songbirds, woodpeckers, and even other birds of prey.

Peregrine falcons will hunt and eat mammals when the opportunity presents itself. Bats are the most popular of these birds, but they also occasionally prey on ground animals, including mice, rabbits, and squirrels. This is rare, but peregrine falcons are also known to eat insects, amphibians and fish. They will even steal food like mice or fish from hawks and other falcons.

Peregrine falcon looking for prey

What do peregrine falcons eat in winter?

Peregrine falcons prey primarily on other birds in winter, including songbirds, pigeons, and various waterfowl. The species will vary depending on the falcon’s region.

These birds typically live year-round in the Gulf of Alaska and along the Pacific coast, as far south as throughout Mexico. They also winter on the South Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. In these areas, falcons feed primarily on gulls and other shorebirds throughout the winter.

Peregrine falcons, which winter year-round or in the interior of Mexico and South America, eat a variety of passerines (perching birds) and waterfowl.

Peregrine falcon eating prey in winter

What do peregrine falcons eat in summer?

Peregrine falcons have a varied diet in summer. Exactly what individual birds eat depends on their region and habitat. Generally, though, the summer diet consists primarily of birds, with occasional additions of mammals, fish, reptiles or insects.

Many peregrine falcons have summer breeding grounds in Alaska and throughout the North American tundra. Here, they typically eat other birds, including golden plovers, sandpipers, longthorns, rock ptarmigans, and snow sparrows. They also feed on mammals such as ground squirrels and lemmings.

In the peregrine’s coastal habitat, catfish, gulls, grebes, black storm petrels and mourning doves are common prey. Fishing bats are also often on the menu. In inland habitats and urban areas, pigeons and doves are favorites of peregrine falcons, along with a variety of common waterfowl including ducks, loons and geese.

Peregrine falcon feeding on pheasant

How do peregrine falcons find food?

Peregrine falcons typically hunt in perched position or while in flight. Common habitats include trees, utility poles, cliff edges or high hills. Peregrine falcons like to overlook open spaces where other birds fly. Occasionally they also hunt on foot.

Peregrine falcons have a variety of attack modes. These are commonly referred to as straight-chase, shepherd, bend-over, loop-up, silhouette-hugging, run/jump, or slap on the ground. The stoop is the most common form of attack and involves the falcon making a quick dive from above potential prey.

If the prey strikes ahead of the falcon, the direct pursuit usually bends. If a falcon is trying to surprise its prey, it can use a silhouette hug, a form of direct pursuit. In this mode, the peregrine uses the scenery to cover itself while chasing another bird.

If the falcon is flying below potential prey, the form of attack used is ringing. In this mode, the predator flies upwards rapidly to intercept prey. Occasionally, a peregrine falcon will fly into a flock of birds in the hope that one bird will panic and break away from the flock – this is known as herding. Running, jumping, or flapping on the ground are some of the attacks birds use when chasing prey on foot.

Peregrine falcon looking for prey

How do peregrine falcons kill their prey?

Peregrine falcons usually kill their prey by grabbing or striking it on the head, back or wings. A blow to the head or back usually results in instant death, while a blow to the wing can injure another bird, making it easier to catch. Occasionally, a peregrine falcon will bend over to force prey onto open ground where it can be grabbed.

Peregrine falcons begin feeding by tearing off the head of their prey. If the prey is small, they will eat it whole, including the bones. Larger prey, such as geese, are simply separated and the falcons eat what they want, leaving the rest for carrion consumers.

How often do peregrine falcons eat?

Peregrine falcons usually eat as much as possible. Many of them will consume the equivalent of two medium-sized roosting birds (i.e. blackbirds) per day. Typically, this equates to a total of 2.5 ounces of meat.

A pair of peregrine falcons feeding pigeons together

What do young peregrine falcons eat?

Juvenile peregrine falcons are fed by their parents, usually on the same diet – other birds interspersed with mammals and occasionally fish or reptiles. One or the other parent takes the carcass back to the nest and tears off bits of flesh to feed the chicks.

Peregrine falcon feeding chicks in nest

What do peregrine falcons drink?

Peregrine falcons usually drink water while bathing. The way they do this is by walking into shallow water, bending over, and sticking their mouth in for a bite. The bird will then raise its head and neck to swallow.

A peregrine falcon drinks water from a stream

Do peregrine falcons use bird feeders?

Peregrine falcons do not use bird feeders for bird food. However, falcons who live in residential areas where feeders are popular do know that these places are easy to hunt. These birds are probably perched somewhere nearby, waiting to surprise the young birds that are feeding at the feeder.

Understandably, falcons hunting at backyard feeders are generally frowned upon. If this becomes a problem, you may need to remove the feeders for a few days to encourage the raptors to find other hunting grounds.

Are peregrine falcons carnivores?

Peregrine falcons are carnivores. They are skilled hunters, capturing their prey both in the air and on the ground. The diet of these birds consists entirely of the meat of other birds, mammals, reptiles or fish. Peregrine falcons rarely eat carrion. When they do, it’s likely because they haven’t found fresh food.

Close up of a perched peregrine falcon

Peregrine Diet FAQs

Do peregrine falcons eat mice?

Peregrine falcons’ diet consists mostly of other birds, but they will catch and eat mice when the opportunity presents itself.

Do peregrine falcons eat pigeons?

Peregrine falcons that live near cities or suburbs often feed on pigeons. Pigeons and doves are one of the most sought-after foods for falcons.

Do peregrine falcons eat cats?

The peregrine falcon is mighty, but still small. They can’t pick up a cat, nor can they eat the whole animal. Therefore, cats are less likely to be prey for these birds. Still, it’s not impossible for a peregrine falcon to attack a cat.

Do peregrine falcons eat fish?

Peregrine falcons occasionally eat fish. However, they rarely catch them on their own. Instead, these falcons will steal fish from other birds of prey, such as ospreys or red-tailed hawks.

peregrine falcon in flight

Do peregrine falcons eat squirrels?

Peregrine falcons will eat squirrels when an easy opportunity presents itself. Often, these falcons prefer other birds.

Do peregrine falcons eat rabbits?

Peregrine falcons occasionally catch and eat rabbits and other small mammals.

Do peregrine falcons eat other birds?

Other birds make up the majority of the peregrine falcon’s diet. Falcons have a long list of birds they will eat, including small perching birds, waterfowl, and shorebirds. Specific species vary by habitat and region.

Do peregrine falcons eat chicken?

While this is uncommon, peregrine falcons have been known to kill and eat chickens.

Do peregrine falcons eat snakes?

Peregrine falcons occasionally eat small reptiles such as snakes and lizards.