Falco peregrinus pealei

Coastal w North America (Aleutian Islands to Washington).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)) Breeds from the Aleutian Islands (and occassionally the Pribilof Islands) and the islands off the coast of southeastern Alaska, south to the Queen Charlotte and Moore islands in British Columbia. Winters from the Queen Charlotte Islands and southwestern British Columbia, south along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, rarely to northern Baja California. Apparently resident on the central Aleutian Islands. Reported on the Commander and Kuril islands of Russia, and possibly Japan (American Ornithologists' Union 1957, Gabrielson and Lincoln 1959, Beebe 1960, 1974).

Comments: Coastal beaches, tidal flats, reefs, islands, marshes, estuaries and lagoons. Nests mostly found on ledges of vertical rocky cliffs in the vicinity of seabird colonies; some nests on grassy benches of rocky bluffs. Heights of nests range from 12 to 366 meters. Many nests sheltered by overhanging grass, sods, rocks, tree roots, salal or mosses (Beebe 1960, Campbell et al. 1990, Nelson 1990).

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Most breeding adults apparently remain on the breeding grounds, although some adults and juveniles do migrate; individuals from the Queen Charlotte Islands have been observed as far south as California (R. W. Nelson, pers. comm.).

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

Comments: An estimated 600 pairs of Peale's peregrines are believed to occur in Alaska (Ambrose et al. 1988) and 100 in British Columbia (Munro 1988).

1000 - 2500 individuals

Comments: An estimated 600 breeding pairs of Peale's peregrines are believed to occur in Alaska (Ambrose et al. 1988) and an additional 100 pairs in British Columbia (Munro 1988).

Young usually disperse some distance, in some cases up to 300 kilometers away (R. W. Nelson, pers. comm.). Of approximately 140 color-banded nestlings from Langara Island, only 5 males and 1 female have been found nesting at Langara (R. W. Nelson, pers. comm.).

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N3 - Vulnerable

Rounded Global Status Rank: T3 - Vulnerable

Reasons: Uncommon resident throughout its range (Munro 1988, Ambrose et al. 1988, Campbell et al 1990).

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Believed to be stable across its range, but at somewhat reduced levels in British Columbia (Munro 1990, Campbell et al. 1990, Nelson 1990).

Degree of Threat: B : Moderately threatened throughout its range, communities provide natural resources that when exploited alter the composition and structure of the community over the long-term, but are apparently recoverable

Comments: Potential global threats include loss of prey to oil spill contamination, sublethal poisoning of seabird prey by pesticide and industrial pollutants, introduced predators (eg. rats) on islands with colonies of seabird prey (Munro 1988, Nelson 1991).

Biological Research Needs: More information is needed on the ecological dependence of the peregrines on their prey, particularly seabirds, and how this relationship may affect long-term viability of the species.

Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act (similarity of appearance) in the United States and by the Migratory Bird Treaty and Wildlife Act in Canada. Included in British Columbia's "Blue" list (currently considered a sensitive/vulnerable subspecies and a candidate for vulnerable status). International movement of captive peregrines is controlled under CITES (Convention on the International Transport of Endangered Species) protection.

Needs: Prevent the introduction on nonendemic predators to islands with seabird colonies (primary food source). Develop emergency response plans for protecting important seabird colonies in the event of an oil spill.