IUCN 08/10/2021 – Least Concern (LC)

U.S. and Canada Conservation Status: Critically imperiled in 21/66 states and provinces (SK, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, KS, KY, ME, MS, NC, NE, NJ, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV). Imperiled in 16/66 states and provinces (AB, MB, CO, FL, ID, IN, MA, MD, ME, NC, NM, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY). Vulnerable in 29/66 states and provinces. Apparently secure in 6/66 states and provinces. Secure in 1/66 states and provinces.

The data used in this figure are listed above. These data were compiled from NatureServe and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Listed on Birds of Management Concern, 2011

In North America, breeds throughout the Nearctic often on cliffs or buildings, migrating from arctic cliffs to South America. Year-round range throughout the Pacific Northwest, south to the US Southwest and much of Mexico. Winters throughout the Gulf region south through Southern Mexico and Northern Colombia. Also winters throughout most of Brazil and south on coast to Argentina. Some year-round habitat in Southern South America as well.

Variable. Uses cliffs or buildings/bridges for nest sites and hunts in open lands, wetlands, cities for avian prey. Breeds in tropics, arid deserts, beaches, marine habitats, arctic tundra, and cities.

These maps summarize the latest RPI trend analyses for count sites throughout North America.

CBC: Increases survey-wide from 2009 to 2019 except for declines in Alaska, Montana, Oklahoma, and Utah. Over-all increases observed since survey start in the 1970s except for long-term declines in Alaska, Montana, and Oklahoma.

BBS: Some increases survey-wide since the 1990s. Low credibility.

Human and predator disturbances of nest sites, environmental contaminants such as PCBs, mercury, and lead, collisions with vehicles and buildings, and habitat loss.

Written by Rebekah Smith

References

Bednarz, J. C., D. Klem Jr., L. J. Goodrich, and S. E. Senner. (1990). Migration Counts Of Raptors At Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, As Indicators Of Population Trends, 1934-1986. The Auk, 107, 96–107.

Farmer, C. J., and J. D. Hussell. (2008). The raptor population index in practice. State of North America’s birds of prey. Series in Ornithology, (3), 165-178.

Farmer, C. J., and J. P. Smith. (2010). Seasonal differences in migration counts of raptors: Utility of spring counts for Population Monitoring. Journal of Raptor Research, 44(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.3356/jrr-09-31.1

Fink, D., T. Auer, A. Johnston, M. Strimas-Mackey, O. Robinson, S. Ligocki, W. Hochachka, L. Jaromczyk, C. Wood, I. Davies, M. Iliff, and L. Seitz. (2021). eBird Status and Trends, Data Version: 2020; Released: 2021. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. https://doi.org/10.2173/ebirdst.2020

Master, L., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Bittman, G. A. Hammerson, B. Heidel, L. Ramsay, K. Snow, A. Teucher, and A. Tomaino. (2012). NatureServe conservation status assessments: Factors for evaluating species and ecosystem risk. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.

Meehan, T.D., G. S. LeBaron, K. Dale, A. Krump, N. L. Michel, and C. B. Wilsey. (2020). Abundance trends of birds wintering in the USA and Canada, from Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, 1966-2019, version 3.0. National Audubon Society, New York, New York, USA.

USFWS. 2014. Species Status Assessment for Species Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2021. Birds of Conservation Concern 2021. United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds, Falls Church, Virginia. http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/ managed-species/birds-of-conservation-concern.php

White, C. M., N. J. Clum, T. J. Cade, and W. G. Hunt (2020). Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.perfal.01

Partners in Flight, Vanishing Habitats. https://partnersinflight.org/vanishing-habitats/

Learn more about this species natural history at All About Birds or at Hawk Mountain’s website.