These animals are swift and stealthy hunters.

Who are these speedsters? Let’s find out!

Falcons are highly intelligent, long-winged birds of prey, meaning they are carnivorous, dining on prey as small as insects and as large as other birds. They have long bodies with pointed wings and medium to long tails. These birds range from six to 25 inches in size and can weigh up to 4 pounds.

An interesting note: male falcons (called tercels) are only 1/3 the size of female falcons (called falcons).

Falcons are excellent fliers, able to change directions and dive at a moment’s notice, and capable of reaching top speeds of about 90 miles per hour! This, along with their exceptional vision, makes them the best hunter of all the birds of prey.

Being a top predator, the falcon’s primary adversary is humans. Pesticides have almost eradicated many breeds of falcon.

These birds typically live alone or in pairs, building their nests in trees or on cliffs. The female falcon will lay two to six eggs, and both the female and male will take turns incubating their eggs and taking care of the young. Both male and female falcons live to be about 20 years old in the wild.