Peregrine Portrait

Greetings Card (FSC Board)
Size: 148mm x 148mm
Card blank inside
Free P + P

Original Painting Medium: Graphite Pencil
Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus
Region: U.K, Europe

A few years ago, a friend and peregrine enthusiast gave me a photograph of his pet: an immature male peregrine, also known as a tiercel.  Having not portrayed a falcon before, it was a great experience.

In the original artwork, I portrayed the bird perched on a rocky outcrop.  My drawing of a peregrine was portrayed with graphite pencil in order to catch the contrasting subtle shades and display this falcon’s exquisite markings.  I decided to also produce a close-up of the peregrine as they are such handsome birds.

The peregrine breeds mainly on coastal cliff ledges but will occasionally nest on the ledges of high city buildings. Its prey is medium-sized birds, typically a pigeon or grouse.

When hunting, a peregrine will often circle high in the sky searching for its next meal. If the attack is from above, the peregrine will suddenly fold its wings back and drop into a spectacular stooping dive reaching speeds of up to 180 mph – the impact of the attack will often break the neck or back of the victim.

Photograph Courtesy of Andrew Taylor