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Where Do Falcons Typically Live?
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Peregrine falcon Peregrine falcon Gyrfalcon Merlin Aplomado falcon Forest falcon A prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) with speckled breast and brown wings perches on a gnarled branch, looking alert with one wing slightly raised.
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Peregrine falcon
Peregrine falcon Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) flying over a forest.

Where Do Falcons Typically Live?

Written by
René Ostberg
René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. 
René Ostberg
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Falcons are birds of prey that live virtually worldwide. Of the nearly 60 species of falcons, the peregrine falcon is the most widely distributed species. This is fitting, considering the bird’s scientific name, Falco peregrinus, means “pilgrim falcon” in Latin. Peregrine falcons live on every continent except Antarctica. Strong and fast—the fastest animal in the world, actually—they have adapted to many different climates and habitats. Peregrines can be found everywhere from rocky open country near water, where they like to...

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