Peregrine Falcon

A bird perches on a rock outcropping near four fluffy whitish chicks — Peregrine falcons are a recovered endangered species in Yellowstone.
NPS / Jacob Frank

The peregrine falcon is among the fastest birds, flying at up to 55 mph and diving at more than 200 mph when striking avian prey in mid-air. Peregrine populations began to decline in the 1940s because of pesticide contamination. One of three North American subspecies, the peregrine in Greater Yellowstone (Falco peregrinus anatum) was considered extirpated by the 1970s. As part of a national reintroduction program, captive-bred peregrines were released in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks during the 1980s. They typically reside in Greater Yellowstone from March through October, when their favored prey—songbirds and waterfowl—are most abundant. During winter they migrate as far south as Mexico or farther.

Number in Yellowstone

In 2023, park staff monitored 23 of the 42 known peregrine breeding territories. Twenty territories were occupied and occupancy could not be determined at the remaining three.
Seven of 11 occupied nests fledged at least 12 young in 2023. Nest success was 41%, slightly lower than the 40-year average (75%).
In 2023, average productivity was 0.71 young per occupied territory, lower than the 38-year average (1.7).

Identification

Slightly smaller than a crow.
Black “helmet” and a black wedge below the eye.
Uniformly gray under its wings. (The prairie falcon, which also summers in Yellowstone, has black “armpits.”)
Long tail, pointed wings.

Habitat

Near water, meadows, cliffs.
Nests on large cliffs over rivers or valleys where prey is abundant.

Behavior

Resident in the park March through October, when its prey—songbirds and waterfowl—are abundant.
Lays three to four eggs in late April to mid-May.
Young fledge in July or early August.
Dives at high speeds (can exceed 200 mph/320 kph) to strike prey in mid-air.

History

In 1962, Rachel Carson sounded an alarm about the irresponsible use of pesticides with her landmark book Silent Spring. Among the dangers she described were the adverse effects of chemicals—particularly DDT—on the reproductive capacity of some birds, especially predatory species such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon. Her book raised public awareness of this issue, and was one of the catalysts leading to the United States banning some of the most damaging pesticides.

The peregrine falcon was among the birds most affected by the toxins. It was listed as Endangered in 1970. Yellowstone National Park was a site for peregrine reintroductions in the 1980s, which were discontinued when the peregrine population began increasing following restrictions on organochlorine pesticides in Canada and the United States, habitat protection, and the reintroduction program. The falcon made a comeback in much of its former range, and was delisted in 1999.

In Yellowstone, the most nesting pairs recorded was 32 in 2007, and they produced 47 fledglings. Although nesting pairs may reuse the same eyrie for many years, their remote locations on cliff ledges makes it impractical to locate and monitor activity at all eyries in a single year.

Yellowstone National Park’s protected conditions and long-term monitoring of peregrines provide baseline information to compare against other populations in the United States. Continued monitoring is essential, not only for comparisons with other populations, but also because peregrine falcons and other raptors are reliable indicators of contaminants such as polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), disease, and climate change. For example, to assess the levels of PBDE and other contaminants, scientists collect eggshell remains after peregrines have left their nests for the season.

Recovery in Yellowstone

While the organochlorines found in peregrine eggshell fragments and feather samples have declined significantly, several studies indicate that certain flame retardant chemicals developed in the 1970s for use in electronic equipment, textiles, paints, and many other products leach into the environment and have been found in birds of prey at levels that impair their reproductive biology. In 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 eggshell fragments, feathers, and prey remains were collected from nest sites in Yellowstone after fledging occurred. Comparative data on eggshell thickness, which is an indicator of environmental contaminants, is within the range considered normal for the Rocky Mountain Region.

The major cause of peregrine endangerment is no longer a threat and Yellowstone’s peregrine population appears stable. Productivity and nesting success in 2023 was well below the 40-year average of 1.7 and 74% respectively. Relatively low nesting success and productivity over the past decade warrants continued close monitoring of this species and may require further study to determine the cause(s).

Resources

Annual Bird Program Reports. National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park. http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/birdreports.htm.

Enderson, J.H.,R.J. Oakleaf, R.R. Rogers, J.S. Sumner. 2012. Nesting performance of peregrine falcons in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, 2005–2009. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124(1):127–132.

White, C.M., N.J. Clum, T.J. Cade, and W. Grainger Hunt. Peregrine Falcon. The Birds of North America Online. https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/perfal/introduction.