Falcons

Falconidae

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A Field Guide to Eastern Birds. by Roger Tory Peterson.

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The falcons are hawk-like birds typically with long legs, long tails, and long, pointed wings. Falcons are among the fastest of the birds and are used for hunting in the sport of falconry. Falcons, for the most part, prey on smaller birds. Most falcons do not make nests, either laying their eggs directly on the ground or using an abandoned nest constructed by some other large bird. The Caracaras are most unfalcon-like members of the family. Caracaras feed mostly on carrion and spend much of their time on the ground. The family contains 63 species worldwide. Seven species breed in North America; all but one of them (the Aplomado Falcon) are found in the east.

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus