http://photos-318.ak.facebook.com/ip002/v50/231/37/10508538/n10508538_30904318_6356.jpg
I know it's not the best picture, but it's one of the better ones I was able to get. He just showed up on my balcony, 15 stories up in the middle of a major city to boot!
2006-11-05 03:48:48 · 19 answers · asked by Christina 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Thanks everyone seems its a peregrine falcon, which makes sense after reading the article, I'm in a high-rise and right on the river! =)
2006-11-05 04:04:47 · update #1
This is an American Kestral (which is a type of falcon), NOT a peregrine falcon. Peregrines do not have the "tear streak" marking, but rather a large dark patch on the face entending all the way down the face to the cheek area. Peregrine is a much larger, heavier bird and very dark in color, a dark grey back, whereas kestrals are reddish or rusty on the back (females) and males have grey/blue on lower back with rusty red on the upper back. See sites below to compare the two species:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Damerican%2Bkestral%2Bfemale%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dush-ans%26x%3Dwrt&w=209&h=310&imgurl=www.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org%2Fimages%2Fanimals%2FKestral_Falcon_A.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org%2Fframes%2Fframes_american_kestrel.htm&size=6.4kB&name=Kestral_Falcon_A.jpg&p=american+kestral+female&type=jpeg&no=3&tt=3&oid=5693b5abf15d2550&ei=UTF-8
http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/teachers/kjain/Gallery/Zoos/ZR/on-line%20zoo/PF2.jpg
2006-11-06 09:39:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The picture is a bit hard to make out, but from the shape of the bird and what I can see, I believe its a Peregrine Falcon. Falcons are part of the group of birds called raptors, scientifically referred to as the family accipitridae. They are related to hawks, and were previously called Duck Hawks. They do like large cities, for the reasons other people have given. This is a bird that was dangerously endangered before the banning of DDT. Due to the work of environmentalists this bird has made a great comeback.
2006-11-05 04:08:23 · answer #2 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is neither a hawk nor an owl. It is a peregrine falcon. Peregrine falcons live in cliffside environments, and hunt small animals from their lofty perches. These birds were introduced to urban environments in order to control pigeon populations (primarily) and they work wonderfully. It turns out the falcons love high-rise buildings. Some buildings even have installed particular nesting sites to attract the birds.
Given the huge populations of pigeons in cities, the health hazards they represent, and that some individuals feel the need to feed pigeons, thus contributing to a population explosion, peregrine falcons are a welcome and thriving part of the urban landscape.
2006-11-05 03:59:37 · answer #3 · answered by lowerbearville 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes it is definitely an American Kestrel, cute aint they, possibly a male by the looks of things. they are very small and hover in the air then dive down to catch small rodents and insects. they are classed as a falcon. it is definitely not a peregrine.
2006-11-05 06:18:53 · answer #4 · answered by Aquila 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't see it very well, but I believe it is a peregrine falcon. Many large cities are introducing them to help control pigeons.
2006-11-05 03:53:26 · answer #5 · answered by piper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an American Kestrel, which is a type of falcon. Looks like a female to me, based on the orange, rather than blue, wings.
2006-11-05 16:01:17 · answer #6 · answered by Strix 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
possibly a perigine falcon they are very rare and usually are in the mountains but in some cases have been seen in the cities. They are almost dieing out! u got to see it thats pretty cool although i would want to see one around me cuz i have some birds!! :o
2006-11-05 05:25:49 · answer #7 · answered by Sunshine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It seems to be an owl to me. I don't see a lot of owls but I see hawks daily. This bird seems to have a shorter, stockier body than a hawk. By the way... looking at the background in the picture, get out to the countryside and enjoy..............
2006-11-05 03:55:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
thats a falcon. the head is smaller than an owl. owl's heads are usualy the same width as the body.
like this:
http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/images/greathornedowl1.gif
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/bird/boreal.gif
2006-11-05 05:28:30 · answer #9 · answered by Luv_da_Cherries! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That looks like an American Kestral (spelling may be wrong on kestral)
2006-11-05 03:51:56 · answer #10 · answered by Not You 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋