Falcon
{{Taxobox
color = pink | name = Falcons | image = USAF falcon.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Hybrid white gyrfalcon and saker falcon. | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Falconiformes | familia = Falconidae | genus = Falco | genus_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = About 37; see text.A Falcon is any of several species of bird of the genus Falco, such as the Peregrine Falcon which are raptors or birds of prey.These birds have thin, pointed wings, which allow them to dive at extremely high speeds. Peregrine Falcons, the fastest birds on Earth, are said to have reached stoop speeds of up to 200 mph.
Other falcons include the Gyrfalcon, Lanner Falcon, and the Merlin. Some small insectivorous falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which hover as they hunt for small rodents are named as kestrels.
The traditional term for a male falcon is a "tiercel". It is so called, from Latin tertius, because it is roughly a third smaller than the female.
The technique of hunting with trained captive birds of prey is known as falconry.
The falcons are part of the family Falconidae, which also includes the caracaras, Laughing Falcon, forest falcons, and falconets.
In February 2005 the Canadian scientist Dr Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian IQ in terms of their innovation in feeding habits. Falcons were named among the most intelligent birds based on this scale.
Falcon fossils have been found dated 50 million years ago in the Eocene in the Messel Pit in Germany.* African Hobby, Falco cuvierii
* American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
* Amur Falcon, Falco amurensis
* Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis
* Australian Hobby, Falco longipennis
* Bat Falcon, Falco rufigularis
* Banded Kestrel, Falco zoniventris
* Barbary Falcon, Falco (peregrinus) pelegrinoides
* Black Falcon, Falco subniger
* Brown Falcon, Falco berigora
* Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
* Dickinson's Kestrel, Falco dickinsoni
* Eleonora's Falcon, Falco eleonorae
* Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo
* Fox Kestrel, Falco alopex
* Greater Kestrel, Falco rupicoloides
* Grey Kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
* Grey Falcon, Falco hypoleucos
* Gyr Falcon, Falco rusticolus
* Laggar Falcon, Falco jugger
* Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus
* Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni
* Madagascar Kestrel, Falco newtoni
* Mauritius Kestrel, Falco punctatus
* Merlin Falcon, Falco columbarius
* Nankeen Kestrel, Falco cenchroides
* New Zealand Falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae
* Orange-breasted Falcon, Falco deiroleucus
* Oriental Hobby, Falco severus
* Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
* Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus
* Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus
* Red-necked Falcon, Falco chicquera
* Saker Falcon, Falco cherrug
* Seychelles Kestrel, Falco araea
* Sooty Falcon, Falco concolor
* Spotted Kestrel, Falco moluccensis
* Taita Falcon, Falco fasciinucha
* Réunion Kestrel, Falco buboisi (extinct)*Falconidae videos on the Internet Bird Collection
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