Hunting Falcons - Essay Example

Falcon is a bird of prey belonging to the family of Falconidae and the genus Falco. In terms of appearance, long pointed wings characterize falcons in addition to having a beak with a tooth-like notch. This assay will attempt to give a description of a falcon and further discuss the distribution, diet, different adaptations, and breeding of the bird.

To begin with, two categories of birds of prey exist based on the time the birds are active. The nocturnal falcons are active during the night while the diurnal falcons prey during the day. Both categories of birds exhibit similar characteristics apart from their time of operation. The falcons are known to have a very high diving speed compared to the other birds and can change directions very quickly. In terms of species number, more than 40 different species of falcon exist in different palaces of the world. However, the most common species of falcon are the peregrine falcon and the black falcon. The falcons also have great eyesight and have few predators that pose a threat to their existence.

In terms of distribution, the peregrine falcon and the black falcon are the most widely distributed species of falcon throughout the world. The birds occupy most of North America, the pacific coast, Mexico and Central America all year round.  In addition, studies have shown that peregrine falcons are also found in the Antarctica region.  A more spectacular feature is that the peregrines also inhabit regions close to rivers due to the presence of target prays including fish.

The falcons have no specific diet but their prey can be either on land or above the ground. For example, small birds in the air contribute a large percentage of prey above the ground. The falcons are able to prey on other birds because of their swift and calculative dives. On the ground, the falcon target on small animals like mice and frogs. Some species of falcons like the white-backed vulture also do scavenge on the body remains of bigger animals found on the ground. In addition to the small animals found on the ground, the snake eagles, which belong to the same class of falcons, prey mostly on snakes found on the ground. Lastly, the falcons also target fish and other small aquatic inhabitants found in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

On the other hand, falcons have adapted to their survival by having different features that enable them to get prey and survive in different environmental conditions. For example, snake eagles have very tough scales on their feet and have feathers surrounding their neck. In the process of hunting, the snake eagle usually puffs out the feathers so that in the event the snake strikes back, it only stings on the feathers or the tough scale on the feed. With these features, the bird can survive counterattacks of the prey. In general, most falcon species have very sharp eyesight that enables the birds to spot their prey even at greater heights above the ground. In addition, the strong curved beaks and claws enable the birds to get hold of the prey strongly and feed easily. Lastly, the falcons have a body shape that enables them to glide in the air easily hence achieving high speeds and swift targets.

In conclusion, falcons are solitary birds and only come together for breeding. The female falcon lay about 3-5 eggs which are incubated by both male and female falcons. In addition, after hatching the eggs, the chicks are brood by both parents for up to twenty days.  Chicks begin to fly when they are about 40-45 days old and usually follow the adult in search of food.