Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is in the Falcons and Caracaras family (Falconidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 23,636 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Peregrine Falcon: observations by month (U.S.)
About Peregrine Falcon
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. As is typical of bird-eating raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males. The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Peregrine Falcon by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,331 | December | Nov–Oct |
| New York | 1,278 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Texas | 1,202 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 973 | May | Jan–Oct |
| Florida | 846 | October | Oct–Jan |
| New Jersey | 764 | October | Sep–Jan |
| Michigan | 750 | May | Jan–Jun |
| Oregon | 725 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 687 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Illinois | 606 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Arizona | 563 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Washington | 536 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Maryland | 521 | October | Aug–Mar |
| Ohio | 503 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Virginia | 448 | October | Apr–Feb |
| Vermont | 423 | April | Jan–Oct |
| Minnesota | 412 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Colorado | 269 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Maine | 232 | August | May–Oct |
| Delaware | 212 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Connecticut | 209 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Wisconsin | 192 | March | Feb–Oct |
| Utah | 156 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Alaska | 152 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Indiana | 140 | June | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 133 | April | Mar–Oct |
| North Carolina | 126 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Louisiana | 101 | October | Sep–Feb |
| District of Columbia | 99 | October | Sep–Mar |
| Nevada | 95 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Wyoming | 95 | June | May–Aug |
| Tennessee | 81 | April | Apr–Jun |
| South Carolina | 75 | October | Oct–Dec |
| Idaho | 72 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Missouri | 72 | April | Mar–May |
| Montana | 61 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 54 | March | Aug–Jun |
| Alabama | 53 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Georgia | 50 | October | Sep–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 46 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 39 | September | Aug–Nov |
| Kansas | 38 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Nebraska | 37 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 36 | October | Sep–Jan |
| Iowa | 31 | September | Feb–Nov |
| West Virginia | 26 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 23 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 21 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Hawaii | 16 | February | Feb–Mar |
| South Dakota | 15 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 11 | September | Sep–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Falcons and Caracaras)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Peregrine Falcon?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to August.
Where is Peregrine Falcon most often seen?
The most observations come from California, New York, Texas.