Peregrine Falcons Hunt Pigeon in High Speed Chase | 4K Narrated Film
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Published 2024-03-09
Their behavior prior to this was relaxed, preening and gazing over the river. I watched as the male took to the skies and begin gaining height. As he ascended higher into the sky, I knew he was hunting. During the ascent, he didn’t flap his wings once, instead circling, using the thermals to conserve energy.
He then began flapping fast from left to right in one direction and was clearly after something. The white feral pigeon came into my viewfinder and the chase started. It lasted 59 seconds, far longer than any attack I have witnessed before.
The female then joined the chase, but against all the odds the pigeon managed to swerve and avoid the relentless stoops from the Peregrine pair, as they returned to the cliffs empty handed.
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All Comments (21)
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Thanks everyone for your comments, I read each and every one! I witnessed another Peregrine hunt last year, although that time it was successful, catching the pigeon only one hundred metres away from me - watch here: https://youtu.be/scuJYfYYsew?si=503xM7lOuqsjt_b_
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ignore the haters Henry, I'm a 62 year old brit who's been a passionate birder and nature lover all my life. There are plenty of us out there that were absolutely riveted by that footage, and we understand why you do it, and how difficult it is. Great stuff...keep going and good luck !
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Superb job of filming this ordeal for the Pigeon, shows how smart the peregrines are but also just what incredible flyers Pigeons are..
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Never underestimate the perfection of the pigeon. Agility and resistance make it a very difficult prey. A healthy wild pigeon is a tough prey and the film proves it
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The rock dove, aka pigeon, has evolved to stay just out of reach of the peregrine who had to evolve a strategy to catch them ie the stoop from above. Pigeons are more manoeuvrable than falcons hence the fantastic ‘dog fights’ we sometimes witness. Remember, no city pigeons means no city peregrines. Long may both grace our skies and thanks you Henry for putting this film together, keep it up. 👏
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Thats amazing, that thing reaches its top speed from about 6000 feet in the air. Without rockets and fancy gadgets.Simply amazing.
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Never in my life did I think I would find myself rooting for a pigeon.
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We have peregrines in a local quarry. One evening a pigeon flew past me so close I could feel the wind of passing. Almost immediately, and travelling much faster followed a peregrine. I felt the wind of its passing much more closely but the pigeon was making for a tree and just got there in time! What a treat!
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I had no idea it was a competition. A pigeon can evade a peregrine falcon? 😳 Mind blown!
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What a sequence! Half of me sees the pigeon as a pest and the other half admires the raptor! Marvellous filming and editing which must have taken ages. ... and I was still relieved when the pigeon escaped!
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My aunt owned racing pigeons. And we renamed one lucky because he survived 4 falcon attacks. It had plenty of scars from it but nothing major that effected him too much. They are very agile birds
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Superbly done Henry 👏 I watched this on my iPhone and then cast it to my tv to see the build up of the battle in detail. It makes you aware that the hunting of a pigeon (unless taken by surprise) is a battle and not just a single attack. They have to work hard for their calories and calculate the whole fall from their initial stoop right down to the trees. Amazing to see how skilled the pigeon is, fighting for its life. Natural selection in action here. Well done, good sound track too. Thank you!
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Since 1983 Peregrine Falcons have established themselves in Manhattan, New York. They are sometimes seen nesting on the window ledges of buildings.
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We have an eclectus parrot here in Australia. He flies free every day. I've seen him chased a few times by hawks and they disappear behind a tree or a building. He's 6 years old now. I worry every day but so far he's survived. He knows all the moves and sometimes comes past us low down flat out doing 90 degree turns etc. He really enjoys flying. Windy days are obviously the most fun for most birds.
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I used to live near the top of Sussex Heights in Brighton which has resident nesting peregrines. They used to bring back a lot of starlings and once a female mallard! I witnessed a dramatic chase with a black headed gull over Brighton pier which escaped. Funny enough, I never saw them bring back a pigeon! Fascinating and enthralling video. Thank you.
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Very interesting to see the Falcons don't always win the game. Glad you showed the pigeon winning for once.
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Bravo...you did well keeping the whole scene in frame... what a natural sight to witness...that pigeon has super powers evading the two of them and bravo to him for keeping his head and escaping...superb work.
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wonderful! The painstakingly filmed documentary is truly impressive. I also love peregrine falcons.
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That is absolutely AMAZING camera work - and fortuitous timing! Stone cold killers, these falcons.
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fastest bird in the world........
