Peregrine Falcon hunting over our Regina SK backyard

Peregrine Falcon, on its evening hunt above my house. © SB 

When we eat supper outside on warm spring days, we often see birds of prey on the hunt.

One recent evening, the shape of a bird's wings caught my eye and its facial marking snagged at my memory. On checking, I realized it was likely a Peregrine Falcon.

(There is a usually a pair nesting on the City Hall building in downtown Regina — and who knows where else nearby, so it's quite likely.)

My sources for the ID were my bird books, including Jerry Liguori's Hawks at a Distance, which explains the wing shape, dark markings, pale chest and black head/mask.

I also tried Merlin, the new All About Birds photo ID web application, which — along with suggesting some highly unlikely songbirds — provided photos of several birds almost identical to mine, with the same distinctive black face masks, white chests, and heavily barred undersides, all verified as Peregrine Falcons. (But, of course, my bird was a very long way up in the sky, so...)

Soaring high, a Peregrine Falcon on the prowl.  © SB 

Another view of the bird I'm calling a Peregrine Falcon - though I'm happy to hear other IDs! © SB

What is this? A Peregrine Falcon
Location: Flying over my backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo date: May 15, 2016

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