The shaheen falcon, or Falco peregrinus peregrinator, is a small-sized, powerful falcon from the family Falconidae. This falcon is a subspecies of the peregrine falcon, which is renowned for its astonishing speed. These birds are known to be the fastest creatures on earth with dive speeds of 320 km/hr!
They prey on small and medium-sized birds using a special hunting technique known as the ‘stoop’. The stoop is a steep, controlled dive from a great height designed to strike prey at a very high speed with a massive blow in mid-air. This bird usually tucks its wings to its side while diving, unlike other raptors that make that final, deadly grab with their wings wide open. Usually the blow itself will kill the prey, but if it doesn’t, the shaheen will finish it off with a sharp bite on the neck.
Birds make up 77 to 99 per cent of its diet, and include pigeons, waterfowl, songbirds and grouse.
Also called the Indian peregrine falcon, the shaheen is a non-migratory bird that is found in all regions of India (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands) except Uttar Pradesh. It is also found in Sri Lanka and southeastern China. This raptor can be recognised from its slate-gray to blackish face and wings, dark eyes and whitish underparts. It has long tapered wings and a slim short tail. Its call is a series of sharp cries in quick succession, ‘kee-kee-kee’. Females are larger than the males.
They prefer to build their nests on rock faces and cliff ledges, but in India this bird has been observed to make its nest in tall buildings and even mobile phone transmission towers. The female typically lays 3 to 4 eggs and incubation lasts from 33 to 35 days. Both parents assume incubation and feeding duties.
It is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List as population numbers have declined over the years. This is due to habitat decay, hunting and the use of pesticides such as DDT which enters their system through infected prey.
Picture Credit : Google
