Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) at entrance to the scrape. There are many finely-tuned words in falconry: “scrape” is purely descriptive; the birds may scrape a shallow depression for their nest. That’s about all the nest is. These hybrid urban falcons, though… it seems unlikely there was any soft earth or gravel in this utilitarian space, just dust, and, cough, particulate from Atlantic Avenue.
It looks like a tight squeeze, not at all like the open-air platform of 55 Water Street, or the door-like holes of the Brooklyn Bridge, or the Gil Hodges’ gunnery slot. Note the history of droppings from previous years’ use.
My worries about the foot of one of these Brooklyn falcons seem to have been misplaced. Standing on one foot with the other foot drawn up is SOP for Peregrines. A follower of my Twitter told me her parrot does the same thing. As it happens, genetic evidence now suggests falcons (Order Falconiformes) are more closely related to parrots (Psittaciformes) and songbirds (Passeriformes) than to other hawks. Taxonomy, long-based on “looks-like” anatomical similarities, is being revolutionized at the genetic level.
At the House of D
7 responses to “At the House of D”
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Contemplating the thought of peregrines as predatory parrots…
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…and talking.
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Wonderful piece: I learn and marvel!
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I wonder if that means other falcons, like kestrels, whose facial markings are so similar to peregrines, could be related to parrots too.
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Yes, it’s all the falcons.
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From eating fruits, seeds, mud, and crackers, to going after poor unfortunate flying rats and dragonflies – what a split in the family tree!
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[…] Peregrine scrapes on bridges and buildings, including Brooklyn’s House of Dentention. This year I heard about a Red-tailed Hawk nest on a fire-escape. Usually the Red-tails use trees, […]
Backyard and Beyond 
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