Peregrine Falcon

[jdgrell]

Hi,

Came out of the house yesterday to a lot of squawking. My girls were all hiding under the bushes in our yard. My dominate hen was pitched a fit and came running full speed.

Down swooped a Peregrine Falcon, missed her by a country mile. When it saw me, it roosted in a tree, then flew off.

I have had Red Tailed Hawks bother my birds but never a falcon. The falcon seemed tiny in comparison to my fat hens.

I put the girls up for a couple of days. Havn't seen any birds or prey since the scare.

Question, is the falcon a big concern? Are they known to kill chickens?

Thx,

 

[Redwood Forest Bantams]

Quote:
It would be highly unusuall for a Peregrine to attack a bird on the ground. Peregrines prefer to hunt from above and attack their prey in flight from a stoop. A Prairie Falcon or a Gyr Falcon are more prone to ground attacks. Having trained and hunted with a number of falcons this behavior you describe in unusuall to say the least for a Peregrine.

 

[jdgrell]

It all happened pretty fast. I could have easily miss identified the bird. Thanks for the info! I am keeping a camera by the door if I see it again.

I assume they are a real risk to my birds?

 

[Paganbird]

Since it missed your hen, maybe it was going for something else on the ground & your hen was peeved because she wanted whatever it was!
Unless you have a broody with chicks, I wouldn't think a small falcon would be a threat to your birds.

 

[ksct]

i agree for the most part with these comments...... and i'm not expert....
BUT a falcon is still a bird of prey and if it wants food..... it will get food..... including your birds..... THANKFULLY it missed!!!!!

 

[cgmccary]

Redwood Forest Bantams wrote:jdgrell wrote:

Down swooped a Peregrine Falcon, missed her by a country mile. When it saw me, it roosted in a tree, then flew off.
I have had Red Tailed Hawks bother my birds but never a falcon. The falcon seemed tiny in comparison to my fat hens. .......................
Question, is the falcon a big concern? Are they known to kill chickens?

It would be highly unusuall for a Peregrine to attack a bird on the ground. Peregrines prefer to hunt from above and attack their prey in flight from a stoop. A Prairie Falcon or a Gyr Falcon are more prone to ground attacks. Having trained and hunted with a number of falcons this behavior you describe in unusuall to say the least for a Peregrine.​

I agree with Redwood Forest here. Peregrines hunt pigeons & doves in the air. Are you sure you know the difference in your Falcons? To an amateur, they will all look alike.

A Prairie Falcon or Gyr Falcon should NOT be a threat to Large Fowl. One of those "swooping" at a big hen or a small dog is sort of like the Mockingbird that swoops at my cat every day. If my cat could catch the Mockingbird, there would be no bird left. A swoop is just a swoop and doesn't mean they are really a viable threat. Crows swoop at Hawks, at owls; Jays swoop at Crows, etc.

If you have Bantams, then a Prairie Falcon could be a threat (like a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk) but not a problem for a larger fowl.​