12 May 2021

During the nesting season birds attack predators that threaten their young, driving them away from the nest before they get close. Peregrine falcons remember these threats all year long and are quick to harass raptors. Bald eagles are often their targets.

Even immature peregrines without a nest will harass raptors. This young peregrine drove five bald eagles off the ice in Cleveland one day last winter.

Pomarine jaegars (Stercorarius pomarinus) are ocean predators who steal the catch of other birds and prey on their young. A peregrine in Cleveland could not stand it when a jaegar ventured off Lake Erie to the Cuyahoga River in January 2015. See more photos at Peregrine vs. Pomarine.

Turkey vultures can’t catch a peregrine but will eat peregrine eggs if they get a chance. Below a male peregrine, Wade, drives off a turkey vulture. Go away!

Nesting peregrines are exceptionally fierce. This video by FaB Peregrines shows the male who nests at Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK attacking a buzzard (*hawk) that came too close.

FaB describes what happened:

I was working around 2.10 p.m. when I heard loud Peregrine alarm calls. I couldn’t see anything at the front, checked from my balcony at the back and spotted a Buzzard and seconds later a Peregrine dive bombing it! I went and grabbed my camera and caught a little bit of the action. This was Tom on his own, Azina was in the box with the chick the whole time.
5 May 2021 at 2.15 p.m. Fulham

When a peregrine sees a threat he doesn’t hesitate. “I’m warning you!”

p.s. Do you like the peregrine photos? Check out Chad+Chris Saladin’s Facebook page.

(*) In the U.S. “buzzard” means vulture. In Britain the buzzard is a hawk, Buteo buteo.

(photos by Chad+Chris Saladin, video from FaB Peregrines, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK)