Courtship: Prominent Perching

Titan and GG perch near each other, February 2016 (photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)
Titan and GG perch near each other, February 2016 (photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)

Early in the breeding season peregrine falcons perch in prominent locations in their territory to show their ownership.

Often the male perches prominently and wails to attract his mate.  If he doesn’t have a mate, his wails are an advertisement to attract a female to the site.

When two peregrines are paired, they perch and roost near each other, perching closer and closer together as egg laying time approaches.  That’s what Titan an GG (from Ohio) are doing in the photo above.

The pair may also turn their heads in a courtship ritual that leads to “billing” or beak touching.

Titan and GG turn their heads as if to begin "billing" (photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)
Titan and GG turn their heads as if to begin “billing” (photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)

On this particular day Titan and GG didn’t touch beaks.  They merely looked at each other from these odd upside down angles. 😉

 

(photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)