Falcons

Falcons may look and act like hawks, but they are actually more closely related to parrots. These birds are built for speed, often specializing in hunting other birds. They have long, skinny toes that are not nearly as strong as the hawks. Despite that, Falcons are still highly effective predators.

The largest falcon in New Jersey is the Peregrine Falcon. This species’ population was completely wiped out in much of eastern North America in the mid-1900s, but today, it is a conservation success story, and the population has expanded. They are typically found in cities or at the beach, chasing after pigeons and shorebirds for their meal. (Did you know the PEFA can dive over 200 MPH?)

Next in size is the Merlin, which is most commonly found in New Jersey in the winter, where they migrate chasing after the winter sparrows and juncos. Look for them in open grasslands.

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in New Jersey. The Kestrel is a sexually dimorphic raptor: males sport blue wings and a polka dot belly, while females have more uniform brown stripes. Weighing in at about 4oz, the American Kestrel prefers mice and insects to other birds and prefers open grassland habitat.