FALCONIDAE

PEREGRINE FALCON

Location : Kampar, Perak
Date :‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎19 July 2021

38–48 cm Adult japonensis (calidus?): Told by large size, slategrey upperside, broad blackish moustachial streak, whitish lower head-sides and underparts with dark bars on flanks and belly to undertail-coverts. Has somewhat paler back and rump, indistinct bands on uppertail (terminal one broader). In flight, wings broad-based and pointed, tail shortish, underwing uniformly darkish (due to dense dark barring), with darkertipped primaries and darker trailing edge.Juvenile: Upperparts and wing-coverts duller with narrow warm brown to buffish fringes, forehead and supercilium whitish with indistinct dark streaks, lower head-sides and underparts buffy with dark streaks (turning to chevrons on vent), has some broken buffish bars on uppertail. In flight, underwing similar to adult but coverts more boldly marked.Adult peregrinator (R Myanmar, rc C Thailand): Strongly rufous-washed below (usually barred) with whiter throat and neck-sides, buffish tail-tip, rufous-washed underwing-coverts.Juvenile: Darker, browner upperside than japonensis, no obvious whitish forehead-patch or supercilium, strongly rufous-washed underparts and underwing-coverts. (i,j) Adult ernesti (R E Tonkin at least): Smaller; darker upperside (can appear blackish), solid blackish head-sides, duller breast to vent with denser dark barring. R birds further south in region (S Thailand, Pen Malaysia; ? W,NE Thailand) have plainer breast than illustrated, varying from whitish to strongly reddish, lower underparts more densely barred and grey-washed, appearing blackish in field. Perhaps an undescribed taxon? VOICE Shrill kek-kek-kek.. when alarmed. HABITAT & BEHAVIOUR Various open habitats including wetlands, coastal habitats, offshore islets, cliffs; up to 2,900 m. Large, powerful falcon that captures birds in mid-air, usually after a spectacular stoop. RANGE Un R S,E Myanmar, north Tenasserim, W,NE,S Thailand, Pen Malaysia, E Tonkin. Sc/un WV throughout. Also PM C Myanmar, S Thailand.