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 Falcons - Definition 

For other uses of the word falcon, see falcon (disambiguation).

Falcons
Brown Falcon
Brown Falcon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family:Falconidae
Genus:Falco
Species

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".

Overview

Hybrid white gyrfalcon and saker falcon.
Enlarge
Hybrid white gyrfalcon and saker falcon.

Falcons have thin, pointed wings, which allow them to dive at extremely high speeds. (Peregrine Falcons, the fastest animals on Earth, are said to have reached speeds of up to 200 mph.)

Other falcons include the Gyrfalcon, Lanner Falcon, and the Merlin. Some small falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies.

The technique of hunting with 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.

Species



de:Falken eo:Falko fi:Haukka nl:Valk zh:隼属

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Falcons".