Order: Falcons

Female American Kestrel, She-ra at the National Aviary

A small raptor (weighing between 3 to 6 ounces) with a widespread distribution throughout much of the Americas, the American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America. It is one of few dimorphic raptors, with the male and female being very differently colored. The best way to tell the difference? Males have blue-gray wings…

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Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcons are one of the most widely distributed land animals in the world, having been observed on every content in the world except for Antarctica. Highly regarded as a noble bird by biologists and licensed falconers, Peregrines have darker, striped plumage and tapered wings for aerodynamic flight. Although currently classified as Least Concern, Peregrine…

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Lanner Falcon side profile

Lanner Falcons are strong, stocky birds with long wings and a relatively short tail, very similar to the North American Peregrine Falcon. Males and females of this species tend to look the same, but females are slightly larger. Lanner Falcons have been used in the sport of falconry for centuries, and are prized for their…

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In The News

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A bird that’s extinct in the wild hatched at the National Aviary | CBS News

A bird that has been extinct in the wild for nearly 40 years was born at Pittsburgh's National Aviary.

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Pittsburgh’s skyline has become home to the once endangered peregrine falcon | TribLive

At Cathedral of Learning, baby peregrine falcons mark another generation.

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Rare harpy eagle arrives at Pittsburgh’s National Aviary | MSN

There's a new "rare" raptor at the National Aviary, one that can't be seen anywhere else in the Northeast. Barry Pintar reports.

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Going sky-high with the raptors at the National Aviary | Pittsburgh Today Live

Daisy Jade is getting up close and personal with some of the remarkable raptors at the National Aviary!

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It takes a village to band a bird | Pitt News

This 25th season signifies a quarter-century of partnership among the University of Pittsburgh, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the National Aviary.

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