- Lifespan
- 12–20 years in the wild; oldest UK-ringed bird recorded over 25 years old
- Size & Weight
- 34–50 cm, wingspan 74–120 cm; males 330–1000 g, females 910–1500 g
- Habitat
- Open and semi-open country including moorland, cliffs, and increasingly urban areas with tall buildings and bridges.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout the UK, with populations in Scotland, Wales, and northern England; also increasingly in cities. Largely resident year-round, though some continental birds winter in the UK.
- Diet
- Exclusively carnivorous, hunting live birds in flight using spectacular high-speed dives.
- Prey
- Pigeons, doves, ducks, waders, and small songbirds; occasionally small mammals and insects.
- Predators
- Golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, and great horned owls; eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and foxes.
- Mating Season
- March to August
- Breeding
- Clutch of 3–4 eggs; incubation 29–32 days; fledging at 35–42 days; typically one brood per year. Uses cliff ledges, quarries, or tall urban structures.
- Behaviour
- Solitary or pairs; highly territorial and loyal to nesting sites year after year. Famous for hunting stoops (dives) reaching over 240 mph, the fastest animal on Earth. Males perform acrobatic courtship displays.