Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Peregrine \Per"e*grine\, a. [L. peregrinus. See Pilgrim.]
Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic.
[Spelt also pelegrine.] ``Peregrine and preternatural
heat.''
--Bacon.
Peregrine falcon (Zo["o]l.), a courageous and swift falcon ( Falco peregrinus), remarkable for its wide distribution over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks, white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called also peregrine hawk, duck hawk, game hawk, and great-footed hawk.
Wiktionary
n. A medium-sized, very swift falcon, ''Falco peregrinus'', that hunts small birds.
WordNet
n. a widely distributed falcon formerly used in falconry [syn: peregrine, Falco peregrinus]
Wikipedia
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. As is typical of bird-eating raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, females being considerably larger than males. The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over during its characteristic hunting stoop (high speed dive), making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. According to a National Geographic TV programme, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is .
The peregrine's breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests; the only major ice-free landmass from which it is entirely absent is New Zealand. This makes it the world's most widespread raptor and one of the most widely found bird species. In fact, the only land-based bird species found over a larger geographic area is not always naturally occurring but one widely introduced by humans, the rock pigeon, which in turn now supports many peregrine populations as a prey species. Both the English and scientific names of this species mean "wandering falcon", referring to the migratory habits of many northern populations. Experts recognize 17 to 19 subspecies which vary in appearance and range; there is disagreement over whether the distinctive Barbary falcon is represented by two subspecies of Falco peregrinus, or is a separate species, F. pelegrinoides. The two species' divergence is relatively recent, during the time of the last ice age, therefore the genetic differential between them (and also the difference in their appearance) is relatively small. It has been determined that they are only approximately 0.6–0.8% genetically differentiated.
While its diet consists almost exclusively of medium-sized birds, the peregrine will occasionally hunt small mammals, small reptiles, or even insects. Reaching sexual maturity at one year, it mates for life and nests in a scrape, normally on cliff edges or, in recent times, on tall human-made structures. The peregrine falcon became an endangered species in many areas because of the widespread use of certain pesticides, especially DDT. Since the ban on DDT from the early 1970s, populations have recovered, supported by large-scale protection of nesting places and releases to the wild.
The peregrine falcon is a well respected falconry bird due to its strong hunting ability, high trainability, versatility, and in recent years availability via captive breeding. It is effective on most game bird species from small to large.
Usage examples of "peregrine falcon".
The bird was a young male peregrine falcon, the same species depicted in the hieroglyph for the name of the god Horus.
The game was going according to the normal rules now, and in less than an eye's blink the toad had turned into a peregrine falcon which was diving at two hundred and fifty miles an hour upon the heron's back.
His graduate training in the medieval area had brought him in touch with falconry, and he recognized the bird she was carrying as a peregrine falcon-a magnificent one.
For now he held the reins in his left hand, and a peregrine falcon in hood and jesses on his gauntleted right wrist.
Princes, dukes and earls all have the same bird, a peregrine falcon.
Then a flutter of wings and a shadow disturbed the peace as a peregrine falcon landed on his window ledge.
This bird, I was sure, was the peregrine falcon, the kings hunting bird.
The Catman had a panther, a peregrine falcon and two cheetahs with him.
Like a peregrine falcon on a flock of ducks-or a merlin harassing pigeons.
Like a peregrine falcon on a flock of ducksor a merlin harassing pigeons.
He hastened on his way, a peregrine falcon travelling with the speed of an archer's bolt, a new urgency to his journey.
Its shrill and piercing cries drew all eyes upon it, and, as it came nearer, a dark spot which circled above it resolved itself into a peregrine falcon, which hovered over its head, poising itself from time to time, and watching its chance of closing with its clumsy quarry.