Peregrin falcon feathers8/19/2023 ![]() ![]() Peregrine Falcon’s have three distinct age classes that can easily be classified in the field juvenile, subadult, and adult. In the cases of the ‘Arctic’ and ‘Peale’s’ Peregrine, these subspecies are rare and live in very small and restricted ranges so I have left them out of this post. Luckily, the two main groups ‘American’ and ‘Eastern’ are quite similar in appearance, and so all of the following information on ageing applies to both. This has broken the species into two main groups, the ‘American’ Peregrine (an official subspecies found mostly west of the Great Plains) and the ‘Eastern’ Peregrine (not a subspecies, just a mix of lineages, found primarily east of the Great Plains).įor this post, I would like to explain how to tell the age of a Peregrine in the field based on some simple field marks. However, in the eastern United States, the birds that were released came from a mix of lineage of subspecies from all over the world. The Peregrines that were reintroduced into the western United States were true ‘American’ Peregrines captive-raised and released. Of these, the ‘American’ Peregrine is the most widespread and most commonly encountered. They are the ‘American’ Peregrine ( Falco peregrinus anatum), the ‘Peale’s’ Peregrine ( F. There are three subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon found in the United States. But until you actually get to see a Peregrine in the wild, you can never really understand how regal, sleek, and truly amazing this species really is. They also know this species as the fastest bird on Earth. The general public knows this species because of its widespread population decrease followed by decades worth of reintroduction efforts that have brought this species back from the brink. ![]() That interest can start at any point, and it often begins with enjoy the natural spectacles, all around us if we stop and look for a moment.The Peregrine Falcon is one of the most well-known birds on Earth. Hopefully, that interest also leads to support of conservation, as many bird species face declines and uncertain futures. There are many ways to enjoy bird watching, from putting up a backyard feeder to chasing “big year” world records. And of course, freshwater habitats are great for other interesting species, from belted kingfishers to great blue herons, from snowy egrets to American bitterns. I always enjoy watching a family of mergansers hunting as they float down a river. When will they reemerge? Where? Questions engage young naturalists and keep them engaged in what’s happening around them. Mergansers dive beneath the surface for a long time. Mergansers are my favorite, because you can often see (big) fish hanging out their beaks. Really, this could be any bird that dives, like loons, various ducks or grebes. If I hear of an exotic pheasant sighted at a local park, you can bet I’ll be there with binocs. Yes, I know they’re not native in the US or the UK. (She went on to be the youngest birder to see more than 5,000 species). It was one of her spark birds and one of her introductions to the world of serious life listing. I smiled when ultra-birder Mya Rose-Craig, in her engaging memoir Birdgirl, devoted a chapter to see feral golden pheasants in the United Kingdom. The thought of tracking down some of these free-roaming pheasants always appealed to me, a bit of a safari close to home. They’re native to Asia, but some of these aviary and game farm birds escape. I was taken with these spectacular birds. It would be a while before I got to go see those places for myself, but sometimes I’d catch a glimpse of those unusual critters.Ī local animal attraction kept a collection of exotic pheasants like the Lady Amherst, golden, silver and Reeves pheasants. I was one of those kids who dreamed of far-off places and the cool animals found there. Photo © OnceAndFutureLaura/Flickr through a Creative Commons license. I chose some obvious “fan favorites” as well as some overlooked species that are pretty cool.Īnd how about you? What birds captured your imagination as a kid? Leave your picks in the comments section. Here are 8 North American species that I’ve found regularly delight children and new-to-birding adults. Some birds just naturally attract more attention. In my experience, kids like to see birds doing interesting things. Let’s face it: the joys of hard-core listing, the finer points of warbler identification and cold, early mornings are joys that escape many youngers (and adults, too, for that matter).īut many bird species are easy to not only see, but to observe going about their daily routine. I’ve also noticed that birds can spark a general interest in nature and nature observation in kids. Sometimes it is watching a common bird in a city park. Sometimes it’s a single sighting of a particularly beautiful species. Birders are fond of the concept of “spark birds” – the birds that inspire a lifetime interest in birding. ![]()
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