Peregrine Falcon attempting to take prey from sea surface

Abstract

Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) are known to forage at sea, taking small seabird species such as prions (Pachyptila sp) or diving petrels (Pelecanoides sp) by catching them in flight (Marchant & Higgins 1993; Hockey et al. 2005). Here I report on an attempt by two Peregrine Falcons to retrieve an item of prey (a Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata) from the surface of the sea.