Breeding Biology of the Peregrine Falcon in Zimbabwe

Summary Hustler, Kit. 1983. Breeding biology of the Peregrine Falcon in Zimbabwe. Ostrich 54:161-171. A pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus was studied in Zimbabwe. Most displays were on ledges and in potholes and consisted of horizontal bows. A courtship ledge was used until 11/2 weeks before egglaying when the nesting ledge became the focus of activity. Most copulations were seen just before egglaying and were preceded by no discernible display. At least two eggs were laid between 2 and 6 August and both sexes incubated. The eggs were covered for 98,8% of the day and incubation shifts averaged 72 min for the male and 101 min for the female. When not incubating the male was absent from the nesting cliff more often than the female. The eggs hatched about 6 September, giving an incubation period of at least 30 days. The male's visits were primarily to bring food after the chicks hatched. The female brooded intensively at first and started to hunt when the chicks were 2 weeks old. Three hunting methods are described and the mean stooping speed for 24 hunts calculated. The main prey was doves (34%); prey types and their vulnerability to predation by Peregrines are discussed.