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60-465: A falcon is a small to medium-sized bird of prey. Falcon may also refer to: Falcon 38; see text . Falcons ( / ˈ f ɒ l k ən , ˈ f ɔː l -, ˈ f æ l -/ ) are birds of prey in the genus Falco , which includes about 40 species . Some small species of falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies , and some that hover while hunting are called kestrels . Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of

120-437: A caste structure similar to the social insects while building extensive burrows that house hundreds of individuals. Versatility in use of construction material may be an adaptive advantage (less energy used to gather materials) or a disadvantage (less ability to specialize construction). The available evidence suggests that natural selection more often favors specialization over flexibility in nest construction. At

180-526: A "mima prairie" landscape marked by huge areas of flat land punctuated by mounds 30 metres (98 ft) wide and 2 metres (6.6 ft) high. Similar structures exist in the United States , created by pocket gophers , and Argentina , rodents of the genus Ctenomys . Nests constructed by megapode birds have been mistaken for anthropological features by professionals, due to their exceptional height (10 metres [33 ft]) and abundance (hundreds in

240-407: A closely related one. In any case, the genus name Sushkinia is invalid for this animal because it had already been allocated to a prehistoric dragonfly relative. In 2015 the bird genus was renamed Psushkinia . The supposed "Falco" pisanus was actually a pigeon of the genus Columba , possibly the same as Columba omnisanctorum , which, in that case, would adopt the older species name of

300-448: A distinctive style of nest. Nest complexity is roughly correlated with the level of parental care by adults. Nest building is considered a key adaptive advantage among birds, and they exhibit the most variation in their nests ranging from simple holes in the ground to elaborate communal nests hosting hundreds of individuals. Nests of prairie dogs and several social insects can host millions of individuals. Nest building (nidification)

360-488: A gelatinous mass which they attach to underwater vegetation to prevent eggs from washing away. Nests can have other protective qualities. For example, the female Fletcher frog beats secreted mucus into a froth, creating a structure that serves as a line of defense against thermal extremes, predation, and desiccation. Fish engage in nest building activities ranging from simply scooping out sediment to building enclosed structures out of plant matter. Male sticklebacks produce

420-408: A lengthwise pattern of blotches, lines, or arrowhead marks. While these three or four groups, loosely circumscribed, are an informal arrangement, they probably contain several distinct clades in their entirety. A study of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data of some kestrels identified a clade containing the common kestrel and related " malar -striped" species, to the exclusion of such taxa as

480-475: A male falcon is tercel ( British spelling ) or tiercel ( American spelling ), from the Latin tertius ( third ) because of the belief that only one in three eggs hatched a male bird. Some sources give the etymology as deriving from the fact that a male falcon is about one-third smaller than a female ( Old French : tiercelet ). A falcon chick, especially one reared for falconry , still in its downy stage,

540-415: A single location). Nest architecture may be as useful for distinguishing species as the animals' physical appearance. Species identified through such means are called ethospecies . This is especially common in wasps and termites, but also can apply to birds. In most animals, there is some variation in nest construction between individuals. Whether these differences are driven by genetics or learned behavior

600-428: A special enzyme in their kidneys that they use to bind plants together. The American alligator is known for its parenting skills. They build large nests of mud and vegetation on river banks or vegetation mats. The female digs a hole in the center to lay her eggs, covers them, and then guards them for two months until they hatch. When eggs start to hatch, she breaks open the nest which has hardened over time and leads

660-497: A usable structure. The tailorbirds stitch together leaves to provide cover for their nest sites. The sociable weaver builds large communal nests in which many individual nests reside. They divide the nest using walls of grass placed atop a base of large sticks. At the entrances to the nest, sharp sticks are placed to ward off intruders. A single communal site can measure 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height and 8 metres (26 ft) in width. As many as 300 mating pairs may reside in

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720-416: Is common among birds. In general, nest complexity increases in relation to the level of parental care provided. Nest building reinforces social behavior, allowing for larger populations in small spaces to the point of increasing the carrying capacity of an environment. Insects that exhibit the most complex nidification also exhibit the greatest social structure. Among mammals, the naked mole-rat displays

780-452: Is known as an eyas (sometimes spelled eyass ). The word arose by mistaken division of Old French un niais , from Latin presumed nidiscus (nestling) from nidus ( nest ). The technique of hunting with trained captive birds of prey is known as falconry . Compared to other birds of prey, the fossil record of the falcons is not well distributed in time. For years, the oldest fossils tentatively assigned to this genus were from

840-636: Is often driven by a biological urge in pregnant animals to protect one's offspring known as the nesting instinct . Animals build nests to protect their eggs , their offspring, or themselves from danger. The simplest nest structures are adapted to hide eggs from predators , shield them from the sun or other environmental factors, or simply keep them from being scattered in ocean currents . In some cases, nests also help provide safety in numbers for egg-laying animals. Many nest builders provide parental care to their young, while others simply lay their eggs and leave. Brooding (incubating eggs by sitting on them)

900-426: Is probably plesiomorphic . These large Falco species feed on mid-sized birds and terrestrial vertebrates. Very similar to these, and sometimes included therein, are the four or so species of hierofalcon (literally, "hawk-falcons"). They represent taxa with, usually, more phaeomelanins , which impart reddish or brown colors, and generally more strongly patterned plumage reminiscent of hawks . Their undersides have

960-517: Is the case with many birds of prey, falcons have exceptional powers of vision ; the visual acuity of one species has been measured at 2.6 times that of human eyes . They are incredibly fast fliers, with the Peregrine falcons having been recorded diving at speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth; the fastest recorded dive attained a vertical speed of 390 km/h (240 mph). The genus Falco

1020-461: Is the most common construction material for nests. Other common materials include fur or feathers , perhaps from the animal itself, mud or dirt , fecal matter , and specialized secretions from the animal's body. Nest building can have a substantial impact on the environment in which animals live. The combined digging activity of termites and mole-rats in South Africa has created

1080-512: Is unique in that individuals of that species build their nests in wood, bamboo culms, agave stalks, and other similar materials, although their preferred nesting material is pine or cedar lumber. When digging the nests, they use the wood shavings scraped from the wall to create partitions within the tunnels. The nests are usually round and have about 1-4 tunnels, each with multiple branches. Because these materials are often useful for humans in construction, X. virgininica's nesting behavior presents

1140-499: Is unknown. With the exception of a few tunneling mammals, nest builders exhibit no specialized anatomy, instead making use of body parts primarily used for other purposes. This is possibly due to the sporadic nature of nest building, minimizing the selective pressures of anatomy used for nest building. In general, birds are the most skilled nest builders, although not all species of birds build nests, some laying their eggs directly onto rock ledges or bare soil without first modifying

1200-657: The Maiasaura . Juvenile teeth at the site exhibit signs of wear, while the leg bones are not developed enough to walk. This allowed scientists to conclude that the species provided extensive parental care for its young. It is likely the species covered its nests with sand and vegetation to keep them warm and nested in colonies for increased protection. Social insects , including most species of ants , bees , termites , and wasps , are nest builders. Their often elaborate nests may be found above or below ground. Features often include ventilation systems and separate chambers for

1260-519: The Gelasian , roughly 2.0–2.5 million years ago (Mya), and are seemingly of tropical East African origin. The entire "true kestrel" group—excluding the American species—is probably a distinct and quite young clade , as also suggested by their numerous apomorphies . Other studies have confirmed that the hierofalcon are a monophyletic group–and that hybridization is quite frequent at least in

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1320-531: The echidna lay eggs in nests. Gorillas build fresh nests daily out of leaves and other vegetation in which they sleep at night. They sometimes also build nests during the day for resting in. The smaller species of gorilla build their nests in trees, while the larger are confined to the ground. Nests of the western gorilla , the largest species, measure about 1 metre (3.3 ft) in diameter. Some species of frog build nests ranging from simple to modest complexity. Many stream-dwelling frogs lay their eggs in

1380-518: The kestrels (probably excepting the American kestrel ); usually small and stocky falcons of mainly brown upperside colour and sometimes sexually dimorphic; three African species that are generally gray in colour stand apart from the typical members of this group. The fox and greater kestrels can be told apart at first glance by their tail colours, but not by much else; they might be very close relatives and are probably much closer to each other than

1440-455: The "falcon". The Eocene fossil "Falco" falconellus (or "F." falconella ) from Wyoming is a bird of uncertain affiliations, maybe a falconid, maybe not; it certainly does not belong in this genus. "Falco" readei is now considered a paleosubspecies of the yellow-headed caracara ( Milvago chimachima ). Nest Nest building is driven by a biological urge known as the nesting instinct in birds and mammals. Generally each species has

1500-642: The American Falco species of today belong to the peregrine group, or are apparently more basal species, the initially most successful evolutionary radiation seemingly was a Holarctic one that originated possibly around central Eurasia or in (northern) Africa. One or several lineages were present in North America by the Early Pliocene at latest. The origin of today's major Falco groups—the "typical" hobbies and kestrels, for example, or

1560-655: The Late Miocene , less than 10 million years ago. This coincides with a period in which many modern genera of birds became recognizable in the fossil record. As of 2021, the oldest falconid fossil is estimated to be 55 million years old. Given the distribution of fossil and living Falco taxa , falcons are probably of North American, African, or possibly Middle Eastern or European origin. Falcons are not closely related to other birds of prey, and their nearest relatives are parrots and songbirds . Falcons are roughly divisible into three or four groups. The first contains

1620-477: The aerial skills required to be effective hunters like the adults. The falcons are the largest genus in the Falconinae subfamily of Falconidae , which also includes two other subfamilies comprising caracaras and a few other species of "falcons". All these birds kill prey with their beaks , using a tomial "tooth" on the side of their beaks — unlike the hawks , eagles and other larger birds of prey from

1680-511: The air. The largest nests, built by members of genus Amitermes , stand nearly 7 metres (23 ft) tall with a similar circumference at the base, and host millions of individuals. Termite mounds are constructed to allow for excellent air flow, regulating the mound temperature. The mounds protect against drying and predation allowing many species to lose ancestral traits such as hard bodies, skin pigmentation, and good eyesight. Magnetic termites construct their nests with flattened sides along

1740-485: The ant is aware of its depth. It is hypothesized that they accomplish this by sensing the level of carbon dioxide in the soil. The leaf cutter ant builds a complex nest which can house 8 million individuals. Its nests feature numerous chambers, most notably garden chambers where they farm fungus on leaves they harvest from the forest. Species such as the carpenter ant and the wasp Polistes exclamans build "satellite nests" - smaller nests near, but separate from,

1800-409: The area. Complex nest building is considered to be one of the key adaptive advantages of birds. Nests help regulate temperature and reduce predation risks, thus increasing the chance that offspring live to adulthood. Bird nests vary from simple depressions in the ground known as scrapes to largely unstructured collections of branches to elaborately woven pendants or spheres. The megapodes , one of

1860-486: The deepest chambers where the temperature is the most stable. Many mammals, including raccoons and skunks , seek natural cavities in the ground or in trees to build their nests. Raccoons, and some rodents, use leaves to build nests underground and in trees. Tree squirrels build their nests ( dreys ) in trees, while voles nest in tall grass. In some species, the nest serve as homes for adults while in others they are used to raise young. The duck-billed platypus and

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1920-439: The disadvantage of weakening wood in manmade structures. The abundance of biological resources within the nest has led to a number of specialized predators. The aardvark and the ant eater use long tongues to prey upon termite and ant nests. Birds such as the honey buzzard specialize on wasp and bee nests, a resource also targeted by the tropical hornet . Symbiosis , ranging from feeding on waste to obligate parasitism ,

1980-437: The few groups who do not directly brood their young, incubate their young in a mound of decomposing vegetation. One species, Macrocephalon maleo , uses volcanic sand warmed by geothermal heat to keep its eggs warm. Among the simple nest builders are falcons , owls , and many shorebirds . The weavers exhibit perhaps the most elaborate nests, complete with strands of grass tied into knots. Most bird nests lie somewhere in

2040-435: The greater kestrel (which lacks a malar stripe), the lesser kestrel (which is very similar to the common, but also has no malar stripe), and the American kestrel, which has a malar stripe, but its colour pattern – apart from the brownish back – and also the black feathers behind the ear, which never occur in the true kestrels, are more reminiscent of some hobbies. The malar-striped kestrels apparently split from their relatives in

2100-399: The ground to protect themselves and their young. Prairie dogs build an elaborate system of tunnels which can span large stretches of land. One such structure, called a town, spanned 25,000 square miles (65,000 km ) and held an estimated 400 million individuals. Their homes are adapted to withstand large (above-ground) temperature variation, floods, and fire. Their young are raised in

2160-484: The ground, creating, each cell made from circular disks cut from plant leaves using the bee's mandibles. Bee nests are founded upon the wax the secrete from their bodies, while those of wasps are dependent on their ability to turn plant water into paper using their saliva. Nests often exhibit divided living, with eggs and food stores kept in distinct parts of the hive. Vespid wasps build complex nests from paper-like material where they lay eggs in individual cells. When

2220-400: The hobbies and, if the hierofalcons are excluded (see below), this group typically contains species with horizontal barring on their undersides. As opposed to the other groups, where tail colour varies much in general but little according to evolutionary relatedness, the tails of the large falcons are quite uniformly dark grey with inconspicuous black banding and small, white tips, though this

2280-413: The larger falcon species. Initial studies of mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggested that the hierofalcon are basal among living falcons. The discovery of a NUMT proved this earlier theory erroneous. In reality, the hierofalcon are a rather young group, originating at the same time as the start of the main kestrel radiation, about 2 Mya. Very little fossil history exists for this lineage. However,

2340-446: The lesser and common kestrels. Kestrels feed chiefly on terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates of appropriate size, such as rodents , reptiles , or insects . The second group contains slightly larger (on average) species, the hobbies and relatives. These birds are characterized by considerable amounts of dark slate-gray in their plumage; their malar areas are nearly always black. They feed mainly on smaller birds. Third are

2400-469: The main nest. These satellite nests are used as an insurance against predators and parasites ; if the original nest is attacked, surviving members can move the satellite nest. Other species such as the Black hover wasp, Parischnogaster alternata , construct nests in clusters with the central core composed of older colonies surrounded by younger colonies. The Eastern carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica ,

2460-414: The middle, with the majority building cup-shaped nests using some combination of mud, twigs and leaves, and feathers. Some birds, such flamingos and swifts , use saliva to help hold their nest together. The edible-nest swiftlet uses saliva alone to construct their nests. The rufous hornero nest is composed entirely of mud and feces, which is placed on tree branches to allow the sun to harden it into

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2520-528: The most basic level, there are only two types of nest building: sculpting and assembly. Sculpting is the process of removing material to achieve the desired outcome. Most commonly this entails burrowing into the ground or plant matter to create a nesting site. Assembly entails gathering, transporting, and arranging materials to create a novel structure. Transportation has the greatest time and energy cost so animals are usually adapted to build with materials available in their immediate environment. Plant matter

2580-666: The nest's style. Several species will build on a cactus whenever possible. The bushtit and Bullock's oriole will suspend their nests from the tips of slender branches. The oropendolas take hanging nests to the extreme, constructing pouches up to 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) tall using hanging vines as their base. The hanging nest is attached to thin tree branches, discouraging predation. Other species seek out crevices, using buildings or birdhouses when tree holes are not available. Typical bird nests range from 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in size ( hummingbirds ) to 2 metres (6.6 ft) ( eagles ) in diameter. The largest nest on record

2640-414: The north–south axis to ensure maximum warming during the winter, while exposing minimal surface area to the harshest mid-day sunshine. Other termite species use their nests to farm fungi. Ant nests feature an elaborate colony structure that may extend 2 metres (6.6 ft) or more underground. As the structure gets further underground, individual chambers become farther and farther apart indicating that

2700-539: The occurrence of physical features such as evidence of excavation. The Oviraptor nests of Mongolia are perhaps the most famous case of dinosaur nesting. One specimen was found fossilized atop a nest in a brooding posture, proving the animal had been poorly named (Oviraptor means "egg taker"). A site known as Egg Mountain in Montana provides exceptional evidence of dinosaur nesting behavior. The site features dozens of nests each with 20 or more eggs belonging to

2760-521: The overall phylogeny of the Falconidae , is not very informative in the present genus. Nonetheless, a core group containing the peregrine and Barbary falcons, which, in turn, group with the hierofalcon and the more distant prairie falcon (which was sometimes placed with the hierofalcon, though it is entirely distinct biogeographically ), as well as at least most of the "typical" hobbies, are confirmed to be monophyletic as suspected. Given that

2820-457: The peregrine falcon and its relatives, variably sized powerful birds that also have a black malar area (except some very light color morphs ), and often a black cap, as well. They are very fast birds with a maximum speed of 390 kilometres per hour. Otherwise, they are somewhat intermediate between the other groups, being chiefly medium grey with some lighter or brownish colours on their upper sides. They are, on average, more delicately patterned than

2880-581: The peregrine-hierofalcon complex, or the aplomado falcon lineage—can be quite confidently placed from the Miocene - Pliocene boundary through the Zanclean and Piacenzian and just into the Gelasian, that is from 2.4 to 5.3 Mya, when the malar-striped kestrels diversified. Some groups of falcons, such as the hierofalcon complex and the peregrine-Barbary superspecies, have only evolved in more recent times;

2940-416: The present diversity of very recent origin suggests that this lineage may have nearly gone extinct in the recent past. The phylogeny and delimitations of the peregrine and hobby groups are more problematic. Molecular studies have only been conducted on a few species, and the morphologically ambiguous taxa have often been little researched. The morphology of the syrinx , which contributes well to resolving

3000-423: The queen, her eggs, and developing individuals. Bees and hornets often seek out natural cavities in which to construct their nests, also known as hives, in which they store food and raise their young. Other species of bee and some wasps dig holes in the ground or chew through wood. In the species Megachile rotundata , for example, females construct tubular-shaped nests in rotting wood as well as small holes in

3060-406: The soft eggs to protect them from the sun and predators and leave. From the fossil record, it is known that many, or perhaps all, dinosaurs laid eggs. Paleontologists have identified a number of features that allow them to distinguish a nesting site from a random clustering of eggs. Those include regular clustering patterns, the co-occurrence of whole eggs with broken eggs and/or hatchlings, and

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3120-491: The species of the former seem to be 120,000 years old or so. The sequence follows the taxonomic order of White et al. (1996), except for adjustments in the kestrel sequence. Several more paleosubspecies of extant species also been described; see species accounts for these. "Sushkinia" pliocaena from the Early Pliocene of Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) appears to be a falcon of some sort. It might belong in this genus or

3180-474: The structure. Other birds often built their own nests on top of Weaver nest sites. Some birds build nests in trees , some (such as eagles , vultures , and many seabirds ) will build them on rocky ledges, and others nest on the ground or in burrows . Each species has a characteristic nest style, but few are particular about where they build their nests. Most species will choose whatever site in their environment best protects their nest, taking into account

3240-415: The unrelated family Accipitridae , who use talons on their feet. The largest falcon is the gyrfalcon at up to 65 cm (26 in) in length. The smallest falcon species is the pygmy falcon , which measures just 20 cm (7.9 in). As with hawks and owls , falcons exhibit sexual dimorphism , with the females typically larger than the males, thus allowing a wider range of prey species. As

3300-644: The wasp Mischocyttarus mexicanus is known to nest in groups or alone depending on the distribution of potential nest sites in the area. Nest sizes vary dramatically and the largest wasp nest on record measured 1.75 metres (5.7 ft) in diameter and was 3.7 metres (12 ft) tall. Found in New Zealand, it was likely built by the German wasp . Termites build elaborate nests that span multiple generations and may last decades. Using chewed wood, mud, and feces they build large mounds which may extend well into

3360-480: The world except Antarctica , though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene . Adult falcons have thin, tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and change direction rapidly. Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers , which make their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such as a broadwing . This makes flying easier while still learning

3420-450: The young hatch, their parents feed them chewed up larvae. Different species exhibit different nest structures. Paper wasp nesting consist of a single tier of cells, while yellow jacket nests can be many layers thick, reaching up to 30 centimetres (0.98 ft) in diameter. Nesting strategies can be plastic, for instance the wasp Parischnogaster mellyi will significant vary its nest construction based on environmental conditions, and

3480-459: The young to the water where she continues to care for them for another year. Alligators are very particular about their nesting sites and will abandon a site if things go wrong. Cobras use leaves and other debris to build nests in which they lay eggs that both sexes guard. They carry the vegetation to the nest site by kinking their necks. Sea turtles dig a hole in the sand above the high tide line in which they lay their eggs. They then cover

3540-520: Was introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae . The type species is the merlin ( Falco columbarius ). The genus name Falco is Late Latin meaning a "falcon" from falx , falcis , meaning "a sickle", referring to the claws of the bird. In Middle English and Old French , the title faucon refers generically to several captive raptor species. The traditional term for

3600-682: Was made by a pair of bald eagles . It was 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) in diameter, 6 metres (20 ft) deep and was estimated to weigh more than 2 tonnes (4,400 lb). The lightest bird nests may weigh only a few grams. Incubation mounds of the mallee fowl can reach heights of 4.57 metres (15.0 ft) and widths of 10.6 metres (35 ft). It is estimated the animal uses as much as 300 tonnes (660,000 lb) of material in its construction. The extinct Sylviornis neocaledoniae may have constructed nesting mounds 50 metres (160 ft) in diameter. Many species of small mammals such as rodents , rabbits , and ground squirrels dig burrows into

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