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DictionaryperegrineFalcon
noun

peregrine

PERR-ih-grin/ˈperɪɡrɪn/

A falcon known for its exceptionally fast diving flight.

The peregrine perches alertly with pointed wings folded against its barred underside.

A peregrine falcon with dark hood and moustache markings perches alertly, showing barred pale underside, pointed folded wings and yellow cere.
Etymology
perLatinaway
+egrLatinfield, country
+ineLatinof or relating to

“Away” and “country” underlie the idea of coming from foreign parts. Why this named the falcon is unclear; it may have referred to birds caught in transit rather than taken from the nest.

In context

Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park24:47
they're the fastest flying birds on earth it's the peregrine falcon here and uh
Birds of Eastern Mojave Spring 2022 / Zoom Lecture / with Kurt Leuschner

More examples

  • A pair of peregrines nests on the city's tallest building.
  • We watched a peregrine chase a pigeon over the river.
  • The young peregrine waits on the cliff for food.

Forms

peregrine · peregrines

Similar words

peregrine falcon
The full species name, rather than its shortened form.
falcon
A broader term covering the peregrine and other related birds.