What is a Group of Falcons Called?

Falcons belong to the Falco genus, which includes about forty different species of raptors. These birds of prey are found in various habitats on every continent except Antarctica. Falcons are well-known for their impressive flying abilities, characterized by high-speed flight and agile maneuvers in the air.

Although falcons are usually solitary birds, they sometimes fly together in groups, especially when they use rising air currents called thermals to stay in the sky. When people spot these groups of falcons, they often call them a “Kettle.”

Other common collective nouns for falcons

Cast

Bazaar

Soar 

Tower

Eyrie

Flight

Brood

Eyass

Stooping Up

Ringing Up

Falcons are often confused with hawks, but you can tell them apart by looking at their wing and body shapes while they’re flying. Falcons generally have smaller bodies but longer wings than hawks.

Like other birds of prey, falcons hunt and eat other animals, swooping down from above to catch their unsuspecting prey. What sets falcons apart is their ability to capture even flying prey, including birds much larger than themselves. They typically go after ducks, pigeons, gulls, and shorebirds, but they can even tackle larger birds like geese and sandhill cranes. Falcons are also known for stealing food from other raptors mid-air.

When it comes to groups of peregrine falcons, they have exceptional eyesight and can dive at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Despite being solitary by nature, they occasionally form loose groups when riding thermals. These groups of peregrine falcons are typically called “Kettle.”

Other collective nouns used for groups of peregrine falcons include “Bazaar,” “Eyrie,” “Stooping Up,” “Ringing,” and “Tower.” Male peregrine falcons are called “tiercels,” and females are simply referred to as “falcons.” They are sometimes raised in captivity and used in falconry, a hunting sport. The peregrine falcon population saw a decline due to the pesticide DDT but has since rebounded, partly thanks to conservation efforts.

When it comes to baby falcons, they usually nest in high places like trees, cliffs, or even skyscrapers in urban areas. There isn’t a specific term for a group of baby falcons, but people often call the family of falcons a “nest of falcons.” Female falcons lay around four eggs and incubate them for a bit over four weeks. Once the chicks hatch, they eat small pieces of meat until they’re ready to leave the nest, which usually takes about five to six weeks. After leaving the nest, young falcons stay with their parents for a few months to learn how to hunt and feed before becoming independent.

Falcons are known for their monogamous mating behavior. When they pair up for life, there isn’t a special name for these couples; they are simply referred to as “a pair of falcons.” These falcon pairs are territorial during the breeding season and build their nests at least a kilometer apart. If one of the pair dies during the breeding season, their nest is often abandoned, but female falcons may find a new mate to help raise their young.

Do Falcons Fly Together in Groups?

Falcons aren’t known for flocking together in groups like some other bird species. They mostly live sary lives, much like other birds of prey. However, there are occasions when you might see falcons flying in groups.

During the few months when falcons are courting, nesting, and raising their young, they form temporary family groups consisting of about five or six birds. These family flocks don’t stay together for long. After the breeding season, they go back to hunting on their own.

Falcons also come together in groups during migration. Birds of prey, including falcons, create what’s called a “kettle” during migration. They follow the same migration routes, which often have thermal updrafts that help them travel efficiently over long distances.

These kettles form in narrow sections of airspace where these updrafts occur. The raptors catch these updrafts and circle upward, creating a swirling group of birds. While it may look like they’re flocking, they’re not working together in the way bird flocks typically do.

Do Falcons Migrate?

Yes, many falcons migrate annually, flying from their breeding areas to places where they spend the winter. For example, peregrine falcons can migrate more than 3,700 miles, and the record distance for a peregrine falcon’s migration is over 6,600 miles.

Male falcons usually migrate farther than females, sometimes traveling as far as South America. Female falcons, even though they’re often larger than males, typically stop migrating once they reach Central America.

Falcons tend to return to the same areas for both their wintering and breeding locations. Both male and female falcons have large hunting territories within these areas and tend to be territorial within those territories.