Features: The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum/tundrius) is Ontario's best known endangered species, owing to efforts spanning over two decades by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Canadian Wildlife Service, the private sector, and naturalists and other volunteers to reestablish a breeding population in the province. It is a streamlined flier renowned for its ability to dive at speeds of up to 300 km/hr as it "stoops" on its prey, literally knocking the birds out of the air. The adult Peregrine is best identified by its distinctive black facial mask, resembling a helmet, and by its black malar stripe, or "moustache". It has a slate blue-grey back and whitish underparts with fine, dark barring on the thighs and lower breast. As with most birds of prey, the female is substantially larger than the male. In the wild, Peregrine Falcons usually nest on tall, steep cliff ledges adjacent to large waterbodies, but some birds adapt to urban environments and raise their young on ledges of tall buildings, even in densely populated downtown areas.

Status: Threatened Provincially, Special Concern Nationally

Range: This species has a distribution that is very widespread, in fact almost cosmopolitan. The historic distribution of the anatum/tundrius subspecies is east of the Rocky Mountains and south of the tree line. Although Peregrine Falcons now nest in downtown Toronto and several other southern Ontario urban centres, the majority of Ontario's breeding population is now centred around the Lake Superior watershed in northwestern Ontario. Range Maps

Threats: The Peregrine Falcon declined in many parts of its global range as a result of reproductive failures caused by the widespread use of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, such as DDT. This phenomenon sounded a warning that certain pesticides were capable of traveling through the food chain, from prey (e.g., insects) to predator (e.g., bird), and of becoming more concentrated at each successive level of the chain. As top predators, birds such as the Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle accumulated the combined residues not only of their own prey, but also of their prey's prey. Although restrictions on the use of DDT in North America have been essential to the success of the recovery program, Peregrines that migrate to parts of Central America and South America, where restrictions are not as stringent, continue to pick up residues. Other threats include harvest for falconry (especially in Mexico), shooting and poaching.

Protection: The Peregrine Falcon is listed under Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which protects the species from being killed, harmed, harassed, possessed, collected or sold. This species will continue to be protected as a Specially Protected Raptor under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. This act protects it from hunting and trapping and also protects nests and eggs. Habitat management guidelines are available to protect Peregrine Falcon nest sites in the vicinity of forest management operations. The Natural Heritage component of the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act provides for the protection of significant habitat of species listed in regulation under the E.S.A. Pesticide advisories are issued in urban centres surrounding Peregrine Falcon nest sites, to reduce the potential for secondary poisoning of Peregrines from bird control programs. Ontario's recovery program for the Peregrine Falcon is part of a larger Canadian and North American effort to restore this species to its former range. The Ontario release program started in 1977 in Algonquin Provincial Park, and since then 524 Peregrine Falcons have been released across Ontario. Since 1989, releases have been concentrated in the northern part of the province. The release program was phased out in 2006 as most populations are now stable or increasing.

For more information about the Peregrine Falcon recovery in Ontario, visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Text Sources: COSEWIC 2007; Godfrey 1986

Last Modified Date: October 2008