Falcons are strict carnivores built for speed hunting. Their tapered wings, sharp talons, and notched beaks make them some of the most effective aerial predators on the planet. Interestingly, falcons are more closely related to parrots than to hawks.
Falcon Diet Overview
| Prey type | Examples |
|---|
| Birds | Pigeons, doves, sparrows, starlings, finches, shorebirds, waterfowl |
| Small mammals | Mice, ground squirrels, bats, young rabbits |
| Reptiles | Small snakes, lizards |
| Amphibians | Frogs |
| Insects | Grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies (smaller falcon species) |
| Fish | Occasionally stolen from other predators |
Diet by Falcon Species
| Species | Primary prey | Notable behaviour |
|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Medium birds - pigeons, doves, songbirds | Dives at 240+ mph, world’s fastest animal |
| Gyrfalcon | Ptarmigan, waterfowl, hares | Largest falcon, hunts in Arctic tundra |
| American Kestrel | Insects, mice, small birds | Smallest North American falcon, hovers while hunting |
| Merlin | Small songbirds, dragonflies | Flies fast and low through open country |
| Aplomado Falcon | Birds, insects, lizards | Hunts in pairs to flush prey |
| Prairie Falcon | Ground squirrels, birds | Hunts low over open plains |
| Pygmy Falcon | Insects, small lizards | Smallest falcon species globally |
How Falcons Hunt
| Method | Details |
|---|
| Stoop (high-speed dive) | Folds wings and drops from height at extreme speed, striking prey mid-air |
| Tail chase | Pursues prey in level flight using speed and agility |
| Perch hunting | Waits on high vantage point, launches when prey appears |
| Cooperative hunting | Aplomado and Peregrine falcons sometimes hunt in pairs |
| Nocturnal hunting | Urban Peregrines hunt migrating birds attracted to city lights |
Baby Falcon Diet
| Stage | Food |
|---|
| Hatchlings | Torn strips of meat from parent’s catch |
| Older chicks | Larger pieces, then whole small prey items |
| Fledglings | Practice hunting with parents before independence |
Daily intake: A Peregrine eats roughly the equivalent of two medium songbirds per day.
Urban vs Wild Diet
| Setting | Primary prey |
|---|
| Cities | Pigeons, starlings, sparrows, doves |
| Coasts | Shorebirds, gulls, waterfowl |
| Open country | Ground squirrels, songbirds, insects |
| Arctic | Ptarmigan, lemmings, seabirds |
Falcons kill with their beaks, not their feet. After striking prey mid-air with their talons, they use a specialised notch in the upper beak called a tomial tooth to sever the spinal cord. This is unique among raptors - hawks and eagles kill with talon pressure alone.
