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peregrine falcon

American

noun

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

peregrine falcon British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of peregrine falcon

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the Houses of Parliament, he holds a peregrine falcon chick while it is ringed for identification.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

"Breathtaking" footage of what was believed to be a peregrine falcon attempting to hunt during a murmuration of thousands of starlings has been captured on video.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025

“I still have to pinch myself when I see a peregrine falcon: ‘Wow, they’re back.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2023

While Castner Range is off-limits to people, it provides habitat for an array of wildlife, including the American peregrine falcon, the golden eagle, the black-tailed prairie dog and the Texas horned lizard.

From Washington Post • Mar. 21, 2023

He ran as a peregrine falcon dives, he ran as a storm wind blows, he ran like Thialfi, and nobody has ever run like Thialfi, not before and not since.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023