Peregrine Chicks Week-to-Week Development

Peregrine falcon chicks change rapidly as they grow from hatch to fledge in approximately 40 days.

Here are illustrations of their weekly development using photos of peregrines at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning and the Gulf Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh.

 

At Hatching:  35-40 grams, feeble, damp, pink, sparse down, eyes closed except when begging, open eye is slit-like.

First peregrine chick hatched at Gulf Tower (photo from the National Aviary falconcam)
First hatchling at Gulf Tower, 2011 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam)

At 5 days: Weight has doubled since hatch day, sits up, open eye is round. No second down yet.

At 6 days: Second down begins on wings (humeral and alar tracts, dorsal surface of wing).

 

At 7 Days (1 week): Second down begins on abdomen and legs (femoral and crural tracts), chicks form a huddle in the nest scrape, can sit up but still wobbly. Sleep in a pile.

7 day old chicks, 3 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
7 day old chicks, 3 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 8 Days: Second down begins on spinal tract.  Primary (wing) feathers begin.

At 10 Days:  Second down complete.  Rectrices (tail) feathers begin.

At 12 Days:  Ear is distinct. After Day 13 can age the chick based on length of rectrices which emerge 2 mm/ day.

 

At 14 Days (2 weeks): Second down is long and fluffy. Pin feathers begin to emerge at wing tips and tail (might not be visible on camera). Chicks move off nest scrape and walk around on tarsi, sleep and eat.  They sit like white Buddhas.

14 day old chicks, 10 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
14 day old chicks, 10 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 15 Days: Sits upright, alert. All primaries emerged from sheaths.

At 20 Days: Heavy down. Contour feathers visible on wing edges. Gets a “face.”

 

At 21 Days (3 weeks):  (Camera is zoomed out because chicks are very active.) Feathers now define the face, feather tips quite noticeable on wings and tail. Chicks very active on gravel surface. Often sleep individually instead of in a pile.

21 day old chicks, 17 May 2009 (photo fromthe National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
21 day old chicks, 17 May 2009 (photo fromthe National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 25 days: Begins to stand and walk on feet, still rests on tarsi.  Body contour and back feathers visible.

At 27 days: Regularly walks on feet rather than tarsi.

 

At 28 Days (4 weeks): Body feathers give the chicks a speckly look that camouflages them on the nest.  They beg loudly. Wings look longer and fuller as wing feathers grow.  Chicks open wings and run across gravel surface.  Chicks have not left the nest surface yet.  In the week ahead their feathers will grow rapidly, pushing out the down which they will pick off as they preen.

28 day old chicks, 24 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
28 day old chicks, 24 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 30 days: Half down, half feathers. Face is pronounced.

 

At 35 Days (5 weeks): Chicks are brown and cream colored with some down patches on wings, on top of head and on “pantaloon” legs.  The youngest chick is obvious because it has more down.  (All primary and secondary feathers still blood-rooted and growing.)  Chicks now perch and flap wings for exercise. Chicks “ledge walk” off camera and might not return to the nest at night.  Parents perch out of reach above the nest. Chicks beg loudly and snatch incoming food from parents.  In the coming week they will fly from ledges that cannot be seen on camera.

35 day old chicks, ledge walking and flapping, 31 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
35 day old chicks, ledge walking and flapping, 31 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
35 day old chicks, 31May 2009 (photo fromthe National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
35 day old chicks begging, 31 May 2009 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

 

At 38-45 Days: Fully feathered except for bits of fluff on top of head and under wings.  Peregrine chicks make their first flight, approximately Day 40.  The oldest males fledge first, then the females and youngest. Youngest chick is alone on the nest as the others walk away. After they fly they are permanently off camera. Fledglings now perch on other ledges and other buildings.

39 days, youngest chick alone as the others walk away (photo from the National Aviary falconcam ay Univ of Pittsburgh)
39 days, youngest chick alone as the others walk away (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine fledglings at Univ of Pittsburgh, 8 June 2009 (photo by Kimberly Thomas)
Peregrine fledglings at Univ of Pittsburgh 25th floor edge, 8 June 2009 (photo by Kimberly Thomas)

 

The young stay with their parents for part of the summer while they learn to hunt.  Before the end of summer they leave home forever.

 

(photos from the National Aviary falconcams at Univ of Pittsburgh and the Gulf Tower and by Kimberly Thomas)

13 thoughts on “Peregrine Chicks Week-to-Week Development

  1. Hi Kate,

    I was delighted to find your blog with informative description of chick development and marvellous photos (particularly fledglings sitting wobbly on the ledge!) In Melbourne Australia I have been following via webcam,(I live in Sydney) the Collins falcons.
    It’s been a birdwatchers heaven.

    http://www.367collinsfalons.com.au

    Cheers,

    Mimi

    1. Hi Kev,

      It’s been fantastic seeing the chicks grow & starting to peck and nibble
      at bits of carcass with seemingly inappropriate enormous claws for such
      tiny fluffy creatures. The adult peregrines are terrific parents – ever
      watchful & supplying a constant regular source of food. Some of the
      prey seem bigger than pigeons!

      Cheers,
      Mimi

  2. Hi Kev,

    It’s been fantastic seeing the chicks grow and starting to
    peck and nibble on bits of carcass holding it down with
    seemingly inappropriate enormous claws! The adult peregrines are
    terrific parents – ever watchful and supplying a constant source of food.
    Some of the prey seem bigger than pigeons!

    Cheers,
    Mimi

    1. 35 days old today…they should be flying within a week, I’m watching them more often in the hope of seeing one of them take off. Taking more screenshots, too.

      Kev

  3. Hi Kev,
    39 days and one lone chick – adult left it with a carcass at about 5pm and flew of again –
    haven’t seen the other two chicks for a while – nearly time to take flight – I’ll miss them when they go.
    Mimi

  4. Hi Kev,

    Your description of falcon development is really interesting especially as I watch the week-old babes in the Mayo Clinic falcon nest. The gaping for food is fun to watch as they feast on pigeon tartare. I am certain the huddling while the adults are away is for planning their next play. The designated wide receiver falcon will fly down the sidelines of the nesting box!

    Go to “Mayo Clinic falcons” for a another really interesting site for falcon information.

    Jerry

  5. Have thoroughly enjoyed these pics of peregrine development. This month I’ve been watching the development since hatching of the peregrine chicks on the top of the Superman building in Providence, RI and am amazed at how exactly they’ve followed progression of the pics you’ve posted.

    1. I have read they are temporarily heavier before they get to the fledgeling stage. When they fly they are back to normal adult weight.

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