19 inches long with a 41 inch wingspan. The Peregrine Falcon is a large falcon with long pointed wings that extend beyond the tail when perched. The beak is short, dark, and hooked. The adult has a black cap and a thick moustache. Its throat and breast are pale. The belly is barred and the upperparts are gray. The underwings are barred black and white. The tail is thin with gray and white bands. The Arctic race is paler than the Northwest race. Immature birds are browner.
The Peregrine Falcon is seen occasionally during migration from September to May. It now breeds on the Woodman Tower in nearby downtown Omaha. Therefore it might also be seen over the Forest at any time during the breeding season.
The Peregrine Falcon was almost wiped out by DDT but it has made a strong comeback. It is faithful to its nesting sites and returns to them year after year. It prefers open areas with good vantage points and feeds almost exclusively on birds. It is a sleek and powerful hunter that swoops down on prey at high speeds. The voice heard near the nest a series of harsh “rehk, rehk, rehk,”.
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