Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Falco peregrinus
Family: Falcons and Caracaras · Status: Uncommon migrant and very rare resident · Size: 38–48 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Breeds throughout the northern Holarctic; many temperate populations winter south to South America, Africa, the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, southern China, South Korea, southern Japan and Southeast Asia, while others are resident.
The migratory subspecies calidus has slaty-grey upperparts, white or buffish underparts with dark bars, broad blackish moustachial streak and white ear coverts. Larger than Eurasian Hobby and Amur Falcon; the broad moustachial streak, barred underparts, broader wings, and bulkier build separate it from both. Juvenile has browner upperparts and underparts with dark streaks instead of bars. Subspecies ernesti is darker overall with a complete black hood, and sometimes has a strong orange suffusion on underparts.
Open country, secondary growth, farmland, mangroves and urban areas.
While it typically nests on cliffs, it has adapted to tolerate high-rise buildings in cities. First confirmed local breeding record was in 2025, when a pair successfully nested on the OCBC Centre in the Central Business District.