Peregrine Falcon

Part of Hall of North American Birds.

Peregrine Falcon flies over a canyon with a bird clutched in its talons to feed its hatchlings. D. Finnin/© AMNH

The Peregrine Falcon, the swiftest of all birds of prey, is one of the most widely distributed species of birds, nesting on every continent except Antarctica. The world's largest urban population of nesting Peregrine Falcons is in New York City.

The display in this hall was conceived by the Museum's great ornithologist Frank M. Chapman. Under Chapman, the Museum's bird collection grew to one of the greatest in the world. It holds over 95 percent of all known species of birds, or about 9,100 different kinds.