Peregrine Falcon
About the Peregrine Falcon in Singapore
Last updated 29 May 2026
The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a spectacular, powerful bird of prey. In Singapore, they are primarily winter visitors (migrants) that arrive between September and April, though they have adapted incredibly well to our modern concrete jungle!
Identifying features
Check out some identifying features of the Peregrine Falcon!
The adult Peregrine Falcon features a slate-blue or dark grey back and wings, while juveniles display a warmer, mottled brown plumage. It possesses a distinct white face marked by dark, tear drop shaped "helmets", known as malar stripes. Its white chest and belly are covered in fine, dark horizontal stripes (also known as barring). Additionally, when observed in flight, it can be easily identified by its long, sharply pointed, swept-back wings that distinctly resemble those of a fighter jet.
Interested to learn more about how to identify Garden Birds? Check out our simple guide on identifying Garden Birds!
Habitat and ecology
In the wild, they nest and hunt from high, rocky cliff faces. In Singapore, they treat our towering HDB flats, CBD skyscrapers, and telecommunication towers as artificial cliffs! They use these massive vantage points to spot flying prey, actively hunting the city's abundant pigeons, mynas, and parakeets.
Peregrine Falcons are the fastest animals in the world! When they spot a bird flying far below them, they fold their wings tightly against their body and enter a specialized hunting dive called a "stoop" and can reach speeds of over 300 km/h to strike their prey mid-air.
Did you know?
Peregrine falcons typically nest on loose gravel substrate, where they can scrape out a hollow to hold the eggs. The absence of a suitable substrate in the bare concrete recess likely caused early breeding attempts to fail. In response, NParks, supported by OCBC, installed a specially designed nesting tray filled with loose gravel. The building of the nest boxes resulted in the successful hatching of 4 Peregrine Falcon chicks in 2026.
In 2026, a 24/7 YouTube livestream was set up to monitor the Peregrine Falcon chicks via CCTV cameras installed at the nest site, allowing researchers to track the breeding cycle withing disturbing the birds.
Check out these photos of the Peregrine Falcons' nest box and pictures from the CCTV camera!
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Enjoy birdwatching, or interested to learn more about the ones you see in our parks and gardens? Join us for the Garden Bird Watch to collect valuable data about garden birds, which contributes to their conservation.
Learn more about the Peregrine Falcon!
Curious about the Peregrine Falcon? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
