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IdentificationPeregrine falcons, like all falcon species, are designed for speed. With long, pointed wings, a long, tapered tail and flat head, peregrines can attain rapid speeds in powered flight or stoops. Attaining dive speeds of up to 200 M.P.H., the peregrine falcon is the planet's fastest bird. Its wing beats are stiffer and deeper than those of other falcon species. In a soar, they exhibit a soft-angled silhouette resembling that of a cocked bow and arrow. Significant sexual size dimorphism is displayed by peregrine falcons, the females of which can be as much as one-third larger than males. In addition, the crow-sized males are considerably slighter and narrower winged than females. The peregrine falcon's call is a series of quick, loud, kee notes.Adult peregrines are blue-gray above with a dark head and flight feathers and a paler rump. From below, adults are whitish with dark barring on the chest and underwing. Like most falcon species, peregrines show a distinct sideburn or "moustache" mark each side of the face. The cere--the fleshy area behind the base of the bill that contains the nostrils--and legs are yellow, the bill is black, and the eyes are dark brown.Juvenile peregrine falcons are dark slate-brown on the upperside and often show a contrasting blonde crown. The underside is buff colored with dark brown checker-marked underwings and vertical streaks on the chest. The cere and legs are pale blue and the bill is black. Adult plumage is acquired the summer after fledging.

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Proximate composition (moisture, lipid, protein, ash), vitamin A and vitamin E content, and six minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mg, Mn, Ca) were measured in quail, rats, mice, and guinea pigs raised on at least two different diets per species. Feed composition varied substantially but erratically in lipid, vitamin A, vitamin E, and mineral content. All unsupplemented feeds had less vitamin E than NRC recommendations and most feeds contained less Mn than recommended. Most feeds deviated from the manufacturer's guaranteed analysis. There were significant effects of diet on body mass, moisture, lipid, ash, vitamin A, vitamin E, Ca, and Cu content for quail. There was a significant effect of diet on vitamin A content of mice; there were no other effects of diet on mammalian species. There was no correlation between diet composition and body composition for any species. Rats and mice differed significantly in vitamin A, Fe, and Cu content when raised on the same diet. We suggest that (1) it is difficult to assume or assess composition or adequacy of commercial diets without laboratory analysis, (2) supplementation of diets with whole foods can potentially reduce diet quality, (3) nutrient differences in quail are related to differences in growth, and such age‐related differences may be more important in determining nutrient content than diet, (4) there were significant species differences in responsiveness to changes in diet, and (5) whole domesticated prey are a potentially inadequate source of vitamin E for raptors and of Mn and Cu for all carnivores. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

IdentificationPeregrine falcons, like all falcon species, are designed for speed. With long, pointed wings, a long, tapered tail and flat head, peregrines can attain rapid speeds in powered flight or stoops. Attaining dive speeds of up to 200 M.P.H., the peregrine falcon is the planet's fastest bird. Its wing beats are stiffer and deeper than those of other falcon species. In a soar, they exhibit a soft-angled silhouette resembling that of a cocked bow and arrow. Significant sexual size dimorphism is displayed by peregrine falcons, the females of which can be as much as one-third larger than males. In addition, the crow-sized males are considerably slighter and narrower winged than females. The peregrine falcon's call is a series of quick, loud, kee notes.Adult peregrines are blue-gray above with a dark head and flight feathers and a paler rump. From below, adults are whitish with dark barring on the chest and underwing. Like most falcon species, peregrines show a distinct sideburn or "moustache" mark each side of the face. The cere--the fleshy area behind the base of the bill that contains the nostrils--and legs are yellow, the bill is black, and the eyes are dark brown.Juvenile peregrine falcons are dark slate-brown on the upperside and often show a contrasting blonde crown. The underside is buff colored with dark brown checker-marked underwings and vertical streaks on the chest. The cere and legs are pale blue and the bill is black. Adult plumage is acquired the summer after fledging.