peregrine falcon

noun

1. a globally distributed falcon, Falco peregrinus, much used in falconry because of its swift flight: several subspecies are endangered.

peregrine falcon

noun

1. a falcon, Falco peregrinus, occurring in most parts of the world, having a dark plumage on the back and wings and lighter underparts See also duck hawk

Word History and Origins

Origin of peregrine falcon¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

But tempus fugit, as the chiming of the library clock made clear, and since Edward Ashton had left, the time had flown faster than a keen-eyed peregrine falcon swooping earthward for its prey.

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Or the peregrine falcons, with their bladelike talons and darting eyes that could spot a tasty field mouse on the ground from hundreds of feet in the air?

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Sequoia National Park is home to the world’s largest trees and iconic birds including peregrine falcons and bald eagles.

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“He is a mix between a bird of prey, like a peregrine falcon, with extremely streamlined shapes — of course a feline but also a Mexican salamander called an axolotl,” Otto says.

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"Those birds, in turn, then provide a food source for some of the more charismatic birds, like peregrine falcons or kestrels."

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