Box 9DD Peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon Source: W Moeller, WWF


The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) declined severely over much of its European range north of the Mediterranean from around 1955­65 onwards. The reason was widespread contamination by persistent toxic chemical residues, mainly from insecticides introduced between the late 1940s and mid-1950s. Typical for species at the top of the food-chain, the falcon was exposed to accumulating toxic residues already stored in the organs of its prey, such as the feral pigeon (Columbia livia). The lack of recovery in coastal zones of northern Scotland may reflect contamination by marine pollutants (including PCBs) through sea-bird prey. It has since shown variable population recovery due to improved environmental control measures. Map 9.15 shows that Greenland, the UK, France, Spain and Italy all have strong breeding populations. Recently, an increase of hunting and egg-collecting has been recorded (Tucker and Heath, 1994).


Map 9.15 - Distribution of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Source: EBCC/EOAWG, personal communication