Falco peregrinus

The Peregrine Falcon is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) because of its extremely small breeding population, estimated at less than 50 mature individuals. In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Regionally Extinct (RE). The improvement in the species status reflects its return to breed in Israel during recent years, although nesting observations are still sporadic and discontinuous and there is no information regarding breeding success. According to certain taxonomic sources (including BirdLife International) the Barbary Falcon F. pelegrinoides is now considered a subspecies of the Peregrine. However, due to the considerable differences in the characteristics of both these populations and their conservation status, they are treated here as two separate species (see Barbary Falcon, EN).

Habitats	Mediterranean Cliffs
Presence In Israel	Summer Breeder
Nesting In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Short Range / Partial
Zoography Zones	Mediterranean
Landscape Formations	Mountainous, Urban
Vegetation Formations	Forest, Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue
Vegetation Densities	Medium, High
Nest Locations	Cliffs, Buildings
Diet Types	Vertebrate
Foraging Grounds	Aerial
Body Sizes	Medium (500 - 1000g)
Threat Factors	Pesticide Poisoning

The Peregrine Falcon is a large, fast, aggressive falcon that feeds on birds it catches in flight. It nests on mountains and cliffs, as well as on tall buildings in cities. It winters in cities and open spaces with trees and electric poles that can serve as perches.

A number of pairs of the Mediterranean subspecies F. p. brookei nested in the Galilee, the Carmel and the Judean Mountains until the 1950s. These pairs were apparently harmed by agricultural pesticides (Paz 1986, Shirihai 1996). In recent years, a number of nesting attempts were made in Tel-Aviv, Haifa and the Hadera Power Plant, some of which apparently succeeded. A nestling at the fledging stage was collected at Haifa University in spring 2013, evidence of nesting that apparently occurred there on one of the buildings (Yigael Miller, pers. comm.).

The Peregrine Falcon has a broad cosmopolitan range. The closest breeding populations are found in Cyprus, Turkey and Greece.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

In recent years, a number of breeding attempts by Peregrine Falcons have been observed in Israel, consequently the species is no longer considered extinct. On the other hand, in order to ensure its future in Israel it is necessary to reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture and stop the use of lead shot for hunting.

The Peregrine Falcon feeds on game birds, such as pigeons and partridges. These birds could have remains of lead shot in their bodies and cause lead poisoning in the falcons. In order to conserve the Peregrine Falcons, as well as all other birds of prey, the use of lead shot for hunting should be stopped.

• הצופה, א. ומירוז, א. 2015. תכנית אב לשימור העופות הדורסים בישראל. מסמך פנימי של רשות הטבע והגנים.
• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International