Peregrine Falcon Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Prairie Falcon
Adult
Prairie Falcons are more brown than the dark gray Peregrine Falcon. The underparts on adult Prairie Falcons also aren't barred like Peregrine Falcons.
© Caroline Lambert | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 06, 2016Similar Species
Prairie Falcon
Immature
Prairie Falcons are browner overall than Peregrines. In flight Prairie Falcons show dark "armpit" patches under their wings that Peregrines don't show.
© Ian Routley | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, October 12, 2012Similar Species
Prairie Falcon
Immature
Immature Prairie Falcons look similar to immature Peregrine Falcons, but they are paler brown with a paler mustache.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 15, 2012Similar Species
Merlin
Adult male (Taiga)
Merlins are smaller than Peregrine Falcons and they lack the Peregrine's helmeted look and thick mustache or sideburn.
© Tony Kurz | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 17, 2017Similar Species
Merlin
Female/immature (Taiga)
The average Merlin is substantially smaller than a Peregrine Falcon, with a more compact body, shorter wings, and a stockier appearance.
© Jonathan Eckerson | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 23, 2016Similar Species
Gyrfalcon
Adult gray morph
The Gyrfalcon is bulkier than a Peregrine Falcon and is very rare in the continental United States. They also lack the Peregrine's bold mustache.
© Gerrit Vyn | Macaulay LibraryAlaskaSimilar Species
Gyrfalcon
Immature gray morph
Gyrfalcons are much larger and bulkier than Peregrine Falcons with a longer tail and broader more rounded wings.
© J B | Macaulay LibraryOntarioMain Species
Peregrine Falcon
Juvenile
Juveniles have buffy underparts that are densely streaked with dark brown. Note brown mask and whisker, and paler eyebrow imparting a distinctive face pattern.
© Bridget Spencer | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 24, 2018Adult
Large falcon with bold black "sideburns" and strongly barred underparts. Often hunts shorebirds along coastlines.
© Tom Johnson | Macaulay LibraryNew JerseyNot all videos have sound
Adult
Long, pointed wings. In flight shows strongly checkered whitish and black underwings and flanks.
© Samuel Paul Galick | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, December 02, 2013Juvenile
Long, pointed wings. In flight juveniles show boldly checked brown and whitish underwings, dense brown streaking on the underparts, and fine barring in the flight feathers and tail.
© Historical Middleton Island Data | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, September 25, 2014Adult
Call is a long series of harsh "kak" notes, usually given as an alarm.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryDecember 09, 1996Not all videos have sound
Immature
Long, pointed wings. In flight immatures show boldly checked brown and whitish underwings, dense brown streaking on the underparts, and fine barring in the flight feathers and tail.
© Garrett Lau | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 12, 2017Adult
Primarily hunts other birds, but will take a variety of prey.
© Brendan Fogarty | Macaulay LibraryNew York, March 08, 2016Adult
Powerful but relaxed flight style with fluid beats of the long, sharply pointed wings. Hefty body and fairly long tail. Sometimes mobbed by other species trying to drive away the danger.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 26, 2007Not all videos have sound
Adult
Large falcon with dark upperparts and sharply pointed wings.
© Tom Johnson | Macaulay LibraryNew JerseyNot all videos have sound
Adult (Australian)
Dark gray above with a blackish helmet and a yellow eyering and cere. Bill small and strongly hooked. Underparts pale whitish, with fine dark barring on the flanks.
© Anonymous | Macaulay LibraryNew South Wales, October 15, 2016Immature (Mediterranean)
© Juan José Bazan Hiraldo | Macaulay LibraryIlles Baleares, December 27, 2017Adult
Sometimes nests and roosts on tall buildings.
© Craig Gibson | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 27, 2017Adult
Sometimes nests and roosts on tall cliffs.
© JeanTr Tremblay | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 11, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Falcons and Caracaras(Order: Falconiformes, Family: Falconidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.