falcon

Any bird of prey of the genus Falco, family Falconidae, order Falconiformes. Falcons are the smallest of the hawks (15-60 cm/6-24 in). They have short curved beaks with one tooth in the upper mandible; the wings are long and pointed, and the toes elongated. They nest in high places and kill their prey on the wing by ‘stooping’ (swooping down at high speed). They include the peregrine and kestrel.

The peregrine falcon F. peregrinus, up to about 50 cm/1.8 ft long, has become re-established in North America and Britain after near extinction (by pesticides, gamekeepers, and egg collectors). When stooping on its intended prey, it is the fastest creature in the world, timed at 240 kph/150 mph.

Other hawks include the worldwide merlin or pigeon hawk F. columbarius and the Eurasian kestrel F. tinnunculus. Merlins are about 30 cm/1 ft in length, steel-blue above and reddish below, and nest on moors. Kestrels are just over 30 cm/1 ft long, with grey head and tail, light chestnut back with black spots, and an unmistakable quivering hover.

In August 1999 the peregrine falcon was taken off the endangered species list in the USA. The comeback of the species is attributed to the 1973 Endangered Species Act, the ban on DDT in 1972, and breeding programmes of captive falcons. In 1999 there were about 1,650 nesting pairs in the USA.

Falcon

Most northerly state in Venezuela, to the west of the Gulf of Venezuela; area 24,800 sq km/9,575 sq mi; population (1996) 699,232. Its capital is Coro. The state lies almost entirely within the coastal zone. Oil refineries are located here, particularly to the north of Coro on the Paraguana peninsula, to which oil is carried by pipeline from the Maracaibo oilfields to the southwest. There are timber and salt industries, which, in conjunction with coal production and distilling, provide the region's main economic activities.

The climate is hot, averaging 27°C. The land is low-lying and agriculturally poor.

The state capital of Coro contains many old colonial buildings and has been designated a national monument.