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PEREGRINE FALCON BEHAVIOR, ECOLOGY, CHARISMA: ALL WILD All Galleries
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PEREGRINE COURTSHIP AND BONDING { 11 images } Created 7 Nov 2017

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  • Adult male peregrine falcon with prey (mourning dove) faces toward the incoming adult female. One wing of the female is visible as she pitches up to take the prey offering. [Motion activated camera triggered in the very early morning hours, augmenting visible light with infrared, recording in B&W.] © David A. Ponton
    R30AT2015A8840UpSz.jpg
  • Adult female peregrine falcon has taken the prey offered by the male. Her wing and part of her body are visible as she turns without stopping to drop away and fly. [Motion activated camera triggered in the very early morning hours, augmenting visible light with infrared, recording in B&W.] © David A. Ponton
    R30AT2015A8841US.jpg
  • Well-adapted peregrine falcon pair does a smooth, in-air, prey transfer, the female coming from underneath and fully inverting to take the prey with her feet, with no interference of wings. © David A. Ponton [The original was cropped significantly, limiting repro. size, prints to 8x10, 11x14]
    DPFA9841upSz.jpg
  • Well-adapted peregrine falcon pair does a smooth, in-air, prey transfer, the female coming from underneath and fully inverting to take the prey with her feet, with no interference of wings. © David A. Ponton [The original was cropped significantly, limiting repro. size, prints to 8x10, 11x14]
    DPFA9842US.jpg
  • Well-adapted peregrine falcon pair does a smooth, in-air, prey transfer, the female coming from underneath and fully inverting to take the prey with her feet, then dropping away. © David A. Ponton
    DPFA9843US.jpg
  • Male peregrine falcon approaches female for copulation, his feet closed to prevent injury. Female raises tail and vocalizes. ©  David A. Ponton [photo by motion-activated camera mounted near a favored perch on the canyon rim. The low-resolution camera limits repro. Size.]
    R30LP2017A1024-editup1.4.jpg
  • Male peregrine falcon landing on the back of the female for copulation, gripping her rump between his “ankles” (the rearward joint in leg).  His halix claw is folded forward under the foot so as to not injure the female, his front talons are visibly out but clear. © David A. Ponton [photo by motion-activated camera mounted near a favorite perch on the canyon rim. The low-resolution camera limits repro. Size.]
    R30LP2017A1025-EditUS.jpg
  • Male peregrine falcon on the back of the female for copulation, gripping her rump between his “ankles” (the rearward joint in leg).  His feet are closed so as to not injure the female. © David A. Ponton [photo by motion-activated camera mounted near a favorite perch on the canyon rim. The low-resolution camera limits repro. Size.]
    R30LP2017A1026-Editup1.4.jpg
  • In the late part of the courtship phase, a young adult female peregrine lowers her wings as she wails at the male. Drooped-wing begging is a juvenile behavior that carries over to adult pairing, with less wing drooping as the female matures. © David A. Ponton [extreme crop from long lens limits repro. size]
    DPMA0163.jpg
  • Male peregrine had just moved away from demanding, domineering young female, then leapt up when she jumped at him, © David A. Ponton [extreme crop from long lens limits repro. size]
    DPMA0170.jpg
  • Male peregrine leapt up when female jumped at him and is now passing over her, © David A. Ponton [extreme crop from long lens limits repro. size]
    DPMA0171.jpg