With the exception of these birds often being smaller and faster, falcons resemble eagles in appearance. About 40 species of falcons may be found worldwide and are members of the Falconidae family of birds.
Falcons can fly at great speeds thanks to their narrow, tapered wings. When chasing its prey, a falcon may dive at up to 200 miles per hour. A falcon has been known to dive at a speed of 390 km/h. They have longer feathers than other bird species and can alter their course quickly.
The pygmy falcon is the smallest of their kind, at only 20 cm in length, while the gyrfalcon is the largest at 65 cm.
These birds have exceptional vision as well. They have eyesight that is 2.6 times as good as ours and can locate their prey at a distance.
What Do Falcons Eat?
Birds
The majority of falcon species eat primarily other bird species. The majority of falcon species eat 77–99% of other bird species. Smaller birds including pigeons, blackbirds, jays, starlings, waterfowl, ducks, grebes, gulls, songbirds, and many others are the main prey of falcons.
Falcons fly far faster than other birds thanks to their speed-enhancing wings. Compared to their prey, they have excellent vision. These birds will approach their prey quickly after spotting it from a distance. They have the ability to dive down and surprise birds by grabbing them with their long, sharp talons.
Bats
Falcons frequently mistake bats for little birds, but they don’t mind at all. For falcons, bats are an extremely delectable and high-protein food. As falcons are nocturnal birds and bats are nocturnal animals, they are particularly likely to catch bats that fly at dusk but not very likely to catch these birds.
Fish
Falcons have a reputation for stealing food from other birds. They particularly like robbing animals of their fish. Fish can be caught by falcons. They frequently soar above the water as they look for fish that may surface nearby. The fish will subsequently be grabbed by the falcons as they dive down to catch them. The falcons can even go underwater to catch their prey.
Small reptiles and amphibians
During the day, these birds also hunt for land animals. They enjoy catching and devouring lizards and other reptiles. They have also been known to capture and consume small snakes that they may come across. Frogs and other specific amphibians are favorites among falcons.
Insects
Falcons don’t always eat insects. However, some animals, like kestrels, like insects over other diets. They consume a wide range of insects, including worms, grasshoppers, crickets, moths, beetles, and many others. However, during the winter when there may be fewer insects present, these falcons will also catch small mammals.
Small Mammals
For falcons, small mammals make a good source of food. They like hunting and eating a variety of small mammals, including rats, mice, bunnies, squirrels, hamsters, shrews, and gerbils.
Diet Variation
Typically, these birds stick to their regular diet. They primarily eat meat, though they occasionally will consume insects. But other from this, they are rather rigid about what they eat.
How to Feed Falcons?
For their health and to stay hydrated, falcons also require fresh water every day. They require more moisture to survive than they can receive from food alone.
What Do Falcons Eat In the Wild?
The majority of a falcon’s day will be spent hunting in the wild. They eat whatever kind of animal they come across in their natural habitat. Although they also catch and consume lizards, frogs, small animals, and even insects, falcons are particularly fond of eating smaller birds.
What Do Falcons Eat in Captivity?
The majority of the tiny animals that falcons eat in captivity are day-old chicks, rats, mice, hamsters, quail, and insects. Falcons can also be trained to consume carrion meat, in which case chopped flesh will be provided for them to eat.
What do Baby Falcons Eat?
Chicks are the name given to young falcons, who are often fed by their parents. The mother falcon feeds its young. Falcons do not feed their offspring by regurgitating food. Instead, they’ll bring food back to the nest where they’ll cut off bits of meat from the animal to feed the chicks.
The liver is typically offered to orphaned falcons because it is fat-free and high in protein. These falcons may also eat lizard bits, various insects, or grasshoppers.
How Much Do Falcons Eat?
Falcons require roughly 21% of their body weight in food each day. This equates to 3.5 to 5.3 ounces of food each day for the majority of falcon species. Larger peregrine species need roughly 70 grams of food each day.
How Often Do Falcons Eat?
Every day, falcons will hunt and eat. They can go a few days without eating, but they prefer to eat every day to keep their energy levels high enough for hunting.
Do Falcons Eat Plants?
Falcons don’t consume plant material. By eating the guts of their prey, they may be able to sneak in some vegetation, although normally they solely eat meat. They ingest other creatures that may have eaten plant stuff in order to obtain all the minerals they require.
Do Falcons Eat Other Birds?
Yes. Falcons enjoy consuming smaller birds than themselves. Some kinds of falcons hunt mostly other bird species and can even subsist almost entirely on avian food. However, certain falcon species favor insects over other birds as a source of food.
Do Falcons Eat Snakes?
Yes. Although they can eat snakes, falcons don’t typically use snakes as a food source. They often target smaller snake species, and with the help of their razor-sharp beaks, they can prevent the snake from biting the falcon by snipping its spine. There are so many feathers that can come in the way of making a kill that even if the snake does manage to bite the falcon, it is unlikely to make a strike.
Do Falcons Eat Cats?
Since they tend to favor other birds, most falcons are either too little or unwilling to catch and devour a cat. The falcon, however, might catch and eat the kitten if it is little enough to be mistaken for a mouse.
Do Falcons Eat Squirrels?
Squirrels are among the many little creatures that falcons eat. Since they spend the majority of their time hunting birds, this isn’t the most prevalent food source for them. Squirrels, however, can be an excellent food source for these raptors in severe situations.
Do Falcons Eat Fish?
Yes. Fish can be caught by falcons in shallow seas, and they can also eat fish. However, stealing fish from other animals is much more usual for falcons than watching them fish for their own food.
FAQ
What animal kills a falcon?
Despite being a skilled predator, the Peregrine Falcon has its own adversaries, such as Gyrfalcons, eagles, Great Horned owls, and other Peregrines.
Which is bigger hawk or falcon?
The most noticeable distinction between falcons and hawks is size. Hawks typically range in length from 18 to 30 inches. Typically, a falcon is 8 to 26 inches long. There are more physical distinctions between hawks and falcons.
What bird can kill a falcon?
In a fight, an eagle would prevail over a falcon. The eagle would almost probably prevail in a fight between two birds that just decided to engage in combat after seeing one another. The eagle would destroy the falcon with its considerably stronger beak because of its larger size, stronger body, and more capable talons.
Is A falcon a hawk?
Both hawks and falcons are raptors. But you’ve probably heard individuals use the two words synonymously. In actuality, they belong to two distinct bird species.
Is a red tailed hawk bigger than a falcon?
The average red-tailed hawk has a wingspan of around 4.5 feet, which is about a full foot longer than the peregrine falcon’s. Although hawks are bigger, the size and even the appearance of both of these birds are comparable. The hawk is still larger than the typical falcon, though.