Black shaheen, Indian peregrine falcon
The Shaheen falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator) is a non-migratory subspecies of the Peregrine falcon. This small but powerful-looking falcon is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent. The word 'shaheen' and comes from Middle Persian šāhēn (literally "majestic, kingly") and has two meanings; in Persian/Farsi it means 'falcon' and the second meaning is a 'pointer of a scale'.
The Shaheen falcon has blackish upperparts, rufous underparts with fine, dark streaks, and white on the throat. The complete black face mask is sharply demarcated from the white throat. It has distinctive rufous underwing-coverts. Males and females have similar markings and plumage apart from size; the male is about the size of a House crow (Corvus splendens), while the female is larger.
Shaheen falcons occur from Pakistan across to India and Bangladesh in the east and to Sri Lanka, central and south-eastern China, and northern Myanmar. In India, they are found in all states mainly in rocky and hilly regions. These birds have also been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. In Sri Lanka, Shaheen falcons are resident and found throughout the island in the lowlands, and in the hill country, favoring mountain cliffs and rock outcrops which provide the birds with nest sites and serve as vantage points from which they can hunt.
Shaheen falcons are usually seen singly or in pairs on cliffs and rock pinnacles. They catch prey in the air and can achieve a speed of 240 km/h (149 mph) in level flight; when diving after prey they can exceed speeds of 320 km/h (200 mph). Shaheen falcons are very strong and fast; they dive from great heights to strike prey with their talons. If the impact does not kill the prey, the falcon bites the neck of its victim to ensure a kill. In general, Peregrin falcons are active during the day but hunt most often at dawn and dusk when prey are most active. They are generally silent birds but when near the nest, they usually produce a rasping "kack-kack-kack-kack" call.
Shaheen falcons are carnivores. Their favorite prey includes small birds, though medium-sized birds such as pigeons and parrots are also taken.
Shaheen falcons are monogamous and form pairs for life. They usually breed from December to April. The birds occupy nests on high cliff ledges or in cavities and tunnels. In India, they have been recorded as nesting on man-made structures such as buildings and mobile phone transmission towers. Females lay clutches of 3-4 eggs and the chicks fledge within 48 days.
In general, Peregrine falcons became an endangered species in many areas because of the widespread use of certain pesticides, especially DDT. Since the ban on DDT in the early 1970s, populations have recovered, supported by large-scale protection of nesting places and releases to the wild. Apart from such anthropogenic threats as collisions with human-made objects, Peregrine falcons may also be killed by larger hawks and owls. In some areas of their range, these birds also suffer from habitat degradation through wood harvesting, overgrazing, and burning. Human disturbance such as rock climbing activities poses another threat as disturbed nesting birds are forced to leave their nests.
According to Wikipedia resourse the total population size of the Shaheen falcon is 100 breeding pairs. Presently, this subspecies is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.
