How long do peregrine falcons live?
The oldest Peregrine Falcon on record lived to 25 years, a record from a bird of unrecorded origin. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild peregrine falcons live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 25 years
- Record from
- Bird of unrecorded origin
- Age at first breeding
- About 1 year
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 14.2–19.3 in, 18.7–56.4 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 3
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Peregrine Falcon can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Peregrine falcons usually start breeding at about 1 year old. Each season a pair lays 2–5 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 33–35 days to hatch.
How peregrine falcons compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other falcons on this site.
- American Kestrel17 years
- Merlin12.7 years
More about peregrine falcons
Frequently asked
How long do peregrine falcons live?
The longest-lived Peregrine Falcon on record reached 25 years, recorded from a bird of unrecorded origin. Most wild peregrine falcons live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Peregrine Falcon when it first breeds?
Usually about 1 year old.
What is the oldest Peregrine Falcon ever recorded?
25 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Peregrine Falcon raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–5 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info