Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
ABNKD06071
Common Name: 
Peregrine Falcon
Scientific Name: 
Falco peregrinus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Falconiformes
Family: 
Falconidae
References: 
R039
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

2 years
References: 
R028

Longevity

average 5 years
References: 
R028

Economic/Human Considerations

Tourism;falconry bird, environmental health indicator spp
References: 
H127
Habitat
cliffs for nesting
References: 
H126
R039
H126-05
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
R039
R182

Distribution

0.38 (anatum) + 0.31 (tundrius) = 0.69
Score: 
G
References: 
R039
R182
Winter Distribution Description: 
South America

Number of Occurrences

About 83 nest sites along the Mackenzie - probably more than 4-300 in NWT
Score: 
DE
References: 
H126

Historical Distribution

0.68
References: 
R039

Area of Occupancy

may be present in most of suitable habitat, dist. Stable
Score: 
-
References: 
R039
R126
H109
R182
Population

Population Size

More than 1000 known breeders in NWT (R182); Breeding population is highly buffered by floater-to-breeder ratios commonly in range of 1:1 to 2:1 (R182)
Score: 
D
References: 
BN001
R039
R141
A121
B126
R182

Density

83 nests on a linear 600 km transects along the Mackenzie River or 0.7 nests per 100 sq.km (1995)
Trends

Trends

increasing from previous popn crash, increasing since 1980, more stable since 1990(R039, R126, R182). Low genetic diversity for anatum and tundrius but no decrease in genetic variation as expected. Both indistinguishable, now different due to change in anatum alone (H109).
Score: 
GH
References: 
R039
R126
H109
R182
Threats

Threats

organochloride contamination; human interference (falconry, habitat loss, etc);present threats are limited althought increased development along Mack River can be of concern
Score: 
B
References: 
H126
R039
R126
H126-05

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited effects of development and disturbance (H126) but predicted to increase with pipeline development (H126_05)
Score: 
-
References: 
H126
R039
R126
H126-05
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
Probably recovered with more than 1000 individuals and threats are limited - althought increased development along Mackenzie River and new contaminants (flame retardents) can be of concern
S Rank: 
S3?
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Suzanne Carriere based on printed references - reviewed in 2005 and changed from At Risk (old COSEWIC status) to Sensitive based on recent information (R141) .Reviewed in 2009, no change except grouping of anatum and tundrius into one rank.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 18, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Not At Risk
2017 Re-assessed as Not At Risk; Peregrine Falcon in Canada was originally evaluated by COSEWIC as three separate subspecies: anatum subspecies (Endangered in April 1978, Threatened in April 1999 and in May 2000), tundrius subspecies (Threatened in April 1978 and Special Concern in April 1992) and pealei subspecies (Special Concern in April 1978, April 1999 and November 2001). In April 2007, the Peregrine Falcon in Canada was assessed as two separate units: pealei subspecies and anatum/tundrius. Peregrine Falcon anatum/tundrius was designated Special Concern in April 2007. Last assessment based on an update status report. COSEWIC 2017. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus (pealei subspecies - Falco peregrinus and pealei anatum/tundrius - Falco peregrinus anatum/tundrius ) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. resulted in a designation of Not At Risk (2017)
References: 
R039
R182

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

SARA Status: 
Threatened
2012 (under review)
References: 
W103

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Martin M (1978) Status report on the peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R028 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Brown, Joseph W. van Coeverden de Groot, Peter J. Birt, Tim P. Seutin, Gilles. Friesen, Vicki L. Boag, Peter T. (2004) Personal Email Communication. Canadian Peregrine Falcon Genetic Survey.. Email from Geoffrey Holroyd to S. Carriere on Oct 25, 2004 - H109 Return
  • COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return

Economic Status

  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Ecozones

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return

Federal Species at Risk Status

  • Government of Canada (2016) Species at Risk Public Registry. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm - W103 Return

Habitat

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • Suzanne Carriere (2005) Pers. Comm.. - H126-05 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Suzanne Carriere (2005) Pers. Comm.. - H126-05 Return

Longevity

  • Martin M (1978) Status report on the peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R028 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Brown, J. W., P. J. V. de Groot, T. P. Birt, G. Seutin, P. T. Boag, and V. L. Friesen (2007) Appraisal of the consequences of the DDT-induced bottleneck on the level and geographic distribution of neutral genetic variation in Canadian peregrine falcons,Falco peregrinus. Molecular Ecology 16:327-343. - A153 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Population Size

Peregrine Falcon Recovery Team (1999) Briefing note - USA Falconery harvest of Peregrine falcons. CWS- Ottawa draft S Carriere office; copy in database references as pert of R039 reference - BN001 Return
,
Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
,
Rowell, Petra A (2002) Draft Update COSEWIC status report on Anatum Peregrine falcon. Draft update presented at COSEWIC meeting but deferred Copy available in RWED Library (COSEWIC binder) - R141 Return
,
Rowell, P., Holroyd, G.L. and Banash, U. (2003) The 2000 Canadian Peregrine Falcon Survey. J.Raptor.Res. 37(2):98-116 - A121 Return
,
White, C. M., N. J. Clum, T. J. Cade, and W. G. Hunt. (2002) Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). The Birds of North America Online. (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Peregrine_Falcon/. - B126 Return
,
COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return

Range Extent

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Brown, Joseph W. van Coeverden de Groot, Peter J. Birt, Tim P. Seutin, Gilles. Friesen, Vicki L. Boag, Peter T. (2004) Personal Email Communication. Canadian Peregrine Falcon Genetic Survey.. Email from Geoffrey Holroyd to S. Carriere on Oct 25, 2004 - H109 Return
  • COSEWIC (2007) Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. - R182 Return

Taxonomy

  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Johnstone RM (1997) Update of status report on the american peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R039 Return
  • Shank, C. (1996) 1996 Central Arctic raptor surveys. RWED, GNWT Internal report S Carriere office; copy in database references - R126 Return
  • Suzanne Carriere (2005) Pers. Comm.. - H126-05 Return