rekordy: Peregrine falcon

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), sometimes referred to simply as the peregrine, is a bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae known for its speed. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts and a black head. As is typical for bird-eating (avivore) raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males. Historically, the bird has also been known as the "black-cheeked falcon" in Australia and the "duck hawk" in North America. The breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, an…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 72

The galah (; Eolophus roseicapilla), less commonly known as the pink and grey cockatoo, galah cockatoo, or rose-breasted cockatoo, is an Australian species of cockatoo and the only member of the genus Eolophus. The galah is adapted to a wide variety of modified and unmodified habitats and is one of Australia's most abundant and widespread bird species. The species is endemic to mainland Australia. It was introduced to Tasmania, where it is now widespread, in the mid-20th century and much more recently to New Zealand.

Evidence: 53 • authority: 92

Are we truly helping those in need: A comprehensive assessment of semen technologies in wild bird species. Abstract Semen technologies (STs) have been increasingly used in birds as a resource to overcome difficulties commonly faced by conservation breeding programs. Yet their application endures challenges not only related to avian physiology but also in terms of efficiency and welfare of the animals being handled. Advances have been made in some taxonomic groups in recent decades, even though the dissemination of these approaches is not as widespread as in mammals. Here, we gathered data from 178 scientific articles on STs to better understand the distribution of research among taxonomic g…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 92

Are we truly helping those in need: A comprehensive assessment of semen technologies in wild bird species.. Semen technologies (STs) have been increasingly used in birds as a tool to overcome difficulties commonly faced by conservation breeding programs. Yet their application faces challenges not only related to avian physiology but also in terms of efficiency and welfare of the animals being handled. Significant advances have been made in some taxonomic groups in recent decades. Nevertheless, these approaches are not as widely disseminated as they are in mammals. Here, we compiled data from 178 scientific articles on STs to better understand the distribution of research among taxonomic gro…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 72

In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and environmental conditions, though this is not always so. Killer whales (orcas) are among the most widely known cosmopolitan species on the planet, as they maintain several different resident and transient populations in every major oceanic body on Earth, from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica and every coastal and open-water region in-between. Such a taxon (usually a species) is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution, or exhibit cosmopolitanism, as a spec…

Evidence: 47 • authority: 92

Predicting high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 susceptibility in wild birds.. High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has caused widespread sickness and mortality in wildlife, especially since the emergence of a novel H5 virus belonging to clade 2.3.4.4b in 2021. The ongoing panzootic caused by this lineage has infected an unprecedented diversity of species across the globe, seeming capable of impacting all birds. Here, we analyse ecological and phylogenetic patterns in outbreak notifications of HPAI, and predict host susceptibility to HPAI disease for Australia as the only continent thus far unaffected by this panzootic. We found a significant family-level phylogenetic signal, showca…

Evidence: 46 • authority: 72

The New Zealand falcon (Māori: kārearea, kārewarewa, or kāiaia; Falco novaeseelandiae) is New Zealand's only falcon, and one of only four living native and two endemic birds of prey. It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier. It is the country's most threatened bird of prey, with only around 5000–15000 individuals remaining. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System the falcon is stable at Threatened, with conservation research needed. The kārearea was voted Bird of the Year winner in the annual Forest & Bird competition in 2012 and again in 2025.

Evidence: 46 • authority: 72

Falcons () 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 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 the aerial skills…

Evidence: 42 • authority: 72

The Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adult male Eurasian sparrowhawks have bluish grey upperparts and orange-barred underparts; females and juveniles are brown above with brown barring below. The female is up to 25% larger than the male – one of the greatest size differences between the sexes in any bird species. Though it is a predator which specialises in catching woodland birds, the Eurasian sparrowhawk can be found in any habitat and often hunts garden birds in towns and cities. Males tend to take smaller birds, including tits, finches and sparrows; females catch…

Evidence: 42 • authority: 92

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in South America, 2022-2025: Spread, Affected Species, and Southward Expansion into the Antarctic Region.. The H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has caused severe global losses, reaching South America in 2022 and Antarctica in 2024. Here, we synthesize outbreak reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health by South American countries and overseas territories in this continent, and document the virus's unprecedented expansion into Antarctica, affecting wild birds, wild mammals, and domestic poultry. Phylogenetic and time-calibrated Bayesian analyses were performed on available genomic sequences. Over 6 million domestic…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

Whole-genome survey reveals extensive variation in genetic diversity and inbreeding levels among peregrine falcon subspecies.. In efforts to prevent extinction, resource managers are often tasked with increasing genetic diversity in a population of concern to prevent inbreeding depression or improve adaptive potential in a changing environment. The assumption that all small populations require measures to increase their genetic diversity may be unwarranted, and limited resources for conservation may be better utilized elsewhere. We test this assumption in a case study focused on the peregrine falcon ( Falco peregrinus ), a cosmopolitan circumpolar species with 19 named subspecies. We used w…

Evidence: 36 • authority: 92

Genomic exploration of the endangered oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, sheds light on migration adaptation and future conservation.. Background The oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, is an endangered migratory bird listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. The bird population has experienced a rapid decline in the past decades, with nest locations and stop-over sites largely degraded due to human-bird conflicts. Multipronged conservation efforts are required to secure the future of oriental storks. We propose that a thorough understanding of the genome-wide genetic background of this threatened bird species is critical to make future conservation strategies. F…