Falco peregrinus Tunstall peregrineperegrine falcon,falcon Page 1 State Distribution Best Survey Period Copyright: Rick Baetsen Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Status: State Endangered Dakota, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Nevada. In Mexico, Global and state rank: G4/S1 peregrine falcon is present on the Baja Peninsula, islands of the Gulf of California, and northwestern Family: Falconidae – Falcons states of the mainland. Breeding also confirmed for eastern Cuba and the Dominican Republic (White et al. Total range: While having one of the most extensive 2002). global distributions, peregrine falcons were never abundant anywhere, due to its specific habitat State distribution: Barrows (1912) noted that the requirements and position in the food web as a top peregrine falcon was “nowhere common” and Wood predator (Hess 1991). The species was formerly (1951) called the species a rare local summer resident extirpated throughout much of its original range due to in northern counties along the Great Lakes. Isaacs exposure to organic chemicals such as DDT, and (1976) described ten historical nesting sites in Michigan: reoccupancy and restoration is still incomplete (White et Goose Lake escarpments, Huron Islands, Huron al. 2002). Three subspecies occur in North America, Mountains, and Lake Michigamme in Marquette with F. p. anatum being the subspecies that breeds in County; Grand Island and Pictured Rocks in Alger Michigan. Payne (1983) noted that F. p. tundrius is an County; Garden Peninsula of Delta County; Isle Royale occasional transient in the State. See White et al. in Keweenaw County; Mackinac Island in Mackinac (2002) and citations therein for a detailed description of County; and South Fox Island in Leelanau County. the current peregrine falcon breeding range in North After declines attributed to DDT contamination, the last America. Breeding range encompasses Alaska, Yukon known successful nesting in the State occurred in 1957 Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, ice-free parts on cliffs of the Garden Peninsula of Delta County of western Greenland, British Columbia, northern and (Berger and Mueller 1969). Peregrine falcons were central Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, southern released throughout the United States in an effort to Ontario, southern Quebec, and Labrador. Distribution is restore populations. One hundred thirty-nine (139) local in the northern tier states of Midwestern and falcons were released in Michigan, which included 108 eastern U.S. The species is widely distributed in the in the Upper Peninsula and 31 in urban areas of the western United States, but absent in most of North Lower Peninsula (Michigan Department of Natural Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 peregrine falcon, Page 2 2005). Highlighted counties in the above map contained be greater in tundra and along coasts. Eyries (nest release sites during reintroduction efforts, element sites) usually found on cliffs overlooking expansive occurrences from the Michigan Natural Features openings, such as large bodies of water; historic nesting Inventory database, or records of recent (since late areas in Michigan occurred on sandstone or granite 1980s) nesting activity. Recent peregrine falcon cliffs located above the Great Lakes shoreline (Evers breeding at natural sites has centered on the Lake 1994). In North America, cliff heights ranged from 8 – Superior shoreline (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 400 m with cliffs 50 – 200 m tall being preferred (White Grand Island, and Au Train Island) and the Porcupine et al. 2002). Peregrine falcons commonly use artificial Mountains region (Porcupine Mountains Wilderness structures as nesting sites, such as buildings, bridges, State Park and Ottawa National Forest). and towers. Contemporary nesting on artificial structures has occurred in the cities of Detroit, Mt. Clemens, Monroe, Biology: Peregrine falcons in Michigan are migratory Ann Arbor, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Flint, with their phenology closely following abundance of Port Huron, and Sault Ste. Marie. small migratory bird prey (Hess 1991). Few data are available on migration timing in Michigan. Bent (1938) Recognition: White et al. (2002) describe peregrine suggested seasonal movements were irregular with falcon as a medium to large falcon with bluish-gray variable arrival and departure dates. Wood’s (1951) upperparts, a variable-width blackish facial stripe analysis of a small number of spring records indicated a extending down from the eye across malar, pale protracted migration occurring between about the auriculars (sometimes all dark), underparts whitish, second week of March and sometime in May. Most grayish, or buffy with variable amount of blackish migrant peregrine falcons in Ohio observed from April spotting and barring, and under wing and undertail 20 to May 15 and from September 25 to October 20, surfaces barred pale gray and black. Immatures are with some as late as mid November (Peterjohn 2000). similar to adults but upperparts are pale to slate or Wood (1951) noted that the southward movement of chocolate brown and underparts are buffy with blackish peregrine falcons occurred primarily in September and streaks (White et al. 2002). White (1968) describes F. October but extended from late August to November. p. tundrius as smaller and white to gray compared to Some peregrines have remained in Detroit during the more brown and rufous-colored anatum subspecies winter, which is likely due to abundant food in the form that breeds in Michigan. Sexes best identified by size, of rock doves (Columba livia) and European starlings with females being 15-20% larger and 40-50% heavier (Sturnus vulgaris) (Hess 1991). Males usually arrive than males. Females are 45-58 cm (18-23 in) in length in spring prior to females and nesting occurs between and males 36-49 cm (14-19 in). Peregrine falcons late March and late May (Evers 1994). Peregrine frequently use the cack call, a harsh kak kak kak kak falcons do not build nests, but instead usually make kak often repeated incessantly, in alarm and in shallow scrapes on cliffs or rock outcrops. A variety of conjunction with nest defense (White et al. 2002). natural and artificial structures are used as nest Peregrine falcon can be confused with the similarly platforms, such as abandoned nests of other bird colored and shaped Merlin (Falco columbarius), but species, tops of hollow tree stumps or snags, building peregrine adults are larger and have a heavier malar ledges, nest boxes, bridges, and towers (White et al. stripe (Evers 1994). 2002 and citations therein). Unless potential nest sites are limited, males will make several scrapes from which Best survey time: Surveys best conducted during the the female selects one for egg laying (White et al. breeding season, spanning about late March through late 2002). Pairs tend to use the same nest sites annually. June, when pairs are territorial and most vocal. Use of Peregrine falcon pairs are monogamous and stay electronically broadcast conspecific calls during surveys together until young disperse; most mates remain paired may increase the likelihood of detecting breeding adults. year after year, which is likely due to strong attachment to the nesting territory rather than strength of the pair Habitat: White et al. (2002) note that peregrine bond (White et al. 2002). In the increasing Midwestern falcons use many terrestrial biomes in the Americas, population, the majority of individuals of both sexes bred with none seemingly preferred, although densities may at two years of age, but twice as many females bred at Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 - Lansing, MI 48909-7944 Phone: 517-373-1552 peregrine falcon, Page 3 1 year and 10 times as many males bred at three or bioaccumulation in prey species, which caused lethal more years (Tordoff and Redig 1997). Peregrines lay and sublethal effects and serious population declines three to four eggs (rarely two to six) between late (White et al. 2002 and citations therein). Researchers March and late May (Evers 1994). Eggs are short observed metabolites of DDT in peregrine falcons and subelliptical to short elliptical, smooth and non-glossy, their eggs and prey and identified eggshell thinning as a creamy or buff, and heavily marked and usually sublethal effect of contamination leading to reduced obscured by dense fine red or chestnut-red speckles reproductive success (Cade et al. 1968, Hickey and (Baicich and Harrison 1997). Although both sexes Anderson 1968, Peakall 1970, 1974). Peregrine falcon participate in incubation, females typically spend more was listed as a federal endangered species in 1969. time incubating than males. Length of the incubation The large-scale banning of most harmful chemicals in period recorded as 33-35 days in wild birds (Bent 1938); North America by about 1972, along with reintroduction Burnham (1983) suggested an incubation period of and protection efforts, led to recovery of the species approximately 33.5 based on captive falcons. Peregrine and federal delisting in 1999. Using data from other falcons single brood but will renest if the first nest is researchers, White et al. (2002) estimated the North destroyed. Young are semialtricial and covered by off- American peregrine falcon population at 2,500-3,000 white down (White et al. 2002). Fledging occurs about pairs. Mesta (1999) estimated at the time of delisting five to six weeks after hatching (Evers 1994), and there were more than 225 peregrine falcons in the young remain dependent upon parents for food until the Midwestern and eastern states where the species was onset of migration (about 5-6 weeks postfledging) or up once extirpated. In 2006 at least 13 pairs nested in to 9-10 weeks postfledging in nonmigratory populations Michigan, 10 of which successfully produced young (White et al. 2002). The diet of the peregrine falcon is (Redig et al. 2007). The goal of the Michigan dominated by bird species, which are hunted by pursuit Department of Natural Resources was to reestablish 10 and aerial attack.