The preceding page reviewed kestrels and now we'll take a close look at their near relative, peregrine falcons. You may recall that both groups are members of the hawk family and live in the same places throughout the world, including the United States and Mexico, as well as parts of Canada. Their nesting habits are similar-sometimes in the hole of a tree trunk, or on the ledge of a rocky canyon, or even on a flat area high on the side of a skyscraper.
Male peregrines are mostly mottled brown and tan over their bodies and legs, with darker brown on their wings and tops of their heads. Females have lighter grayish feathers over their backs and heads, contrasting with soft white throats and chests.
Compared with the blue jay-size kestrel, peregrines are about the size of a big crow. One look at their hooked beaks and long sharp claws (talons) would convince you they can be very tough enemies, not only to rats and mice, but to rabbits, squirrels and other land animals, as well as birds as big as sea gulls.
"Peregrine" means "traveling" or "wandering," and that's how they got their name, because they will at times fly hundreds of miles searching for a meal. While kestrels don't
have enough speed to catch other birds in the air, the peregrines are different. They can overtake many birds. They fly as high as 1000 feet, their sharp eyes all the while searching far below.
They could not do all this remarkable hunting if the Creator had not provided them with eyes like telescopes. They can spot a squirrel on the ground a thousand feet below, or see a flying bird a great distance off and soon overtake it. Sometimes when mates are flying together and the male captures a bird, the female will fly upside down below him and let him drop the captive into her open claws to take home for food for their little ones. At other times, flying alone and capturing a bird at a time when he's not hungry, the peregrine will kill it in the air and then drop it to the ground. When he comes back later to pick it up, he might catch a rat or other animal nibbling on it.
Adam and Eve brought sin into the world. After that, many animals and birds, such as these hawks, became meat eaters for the first time. But another time is soon coming when everything will be happy and at peace again.
Before that takes place those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior will be with Him in heaven and will happily look down on a renewed world that will then be in perfect peace. Will you be one of those looking down from heaven on that happy sight? You can be.