Peregrines Around the World

From John Gould's Birds of Australia

The Peregrine Falcon is a remarkable and spectacular bird. It has the distinction of being one of few bird species that naturally occurs around the world. Peregrines are absent only from very arid deserts, Antarctica, New Zealand, Newfoundland, Iceland and remote islands and parts of Central America and Amazonia.

The world's Peregrine Falcons belong to a single species — Falco peregrinus. Regional differences in behaviour, size and appearance do exist, resulting in the recognition of about 20 distinctive forms (subspecies) of this falcon. Australian Peregrine Falcons belong the subspecies Falco peregrinus macropus — literally 'the large-footed Peregrine Falcon'.

It is possible to group the subspecies into Northern and Southern Hemisphere forms. Northern Peregrines tend to be larger with pale cheeks and are migratory. Their Southern counterparts are smaller with black 'hoods' and are non-migratory. In some parts of the Americas, Africa and Asia, it is possible to find visitors from the North living alongside resident Southern birds during the Northern Winter.

The falcon's English language common name, Peregrine, is derived from the Latin peregrinus, meaning 'from foreign parts' or 'a wanderer'. This name is appropriate for such a wide-ranging, mobile bird and one that is migratory throughout part of its range at least.

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