We often receive reports from people who believe they have seen a Peregrine Falcon when they actually saw a Merlin, a Cooper’s Hawk or another bird of prey.

This isn’t surprising, because many birds do look alike, and it takes an experienced eye to tell the difference. Females are larger than males, so a female of one species may be similar in size to a male of a similar but larger species. Also, by the time juvenile raptors can fly, they’re the same size as the adults but their plumage as well as the colour of their eyes, beaks and feet may be very different.

So don’t worry or be embarrassed if you’re not sure what you’ve seen. Email us your report, including location, a description of the bird and its behaviour, and we can help you determine whether it was a Peregrine or something else. If you can send a photo, even better.

Here are some tips to guide your identification of Ottawa-area raptors:

• All birds of prey have powerful talons (claws) to catch their prey, and relatively short, curved beaks.
• If it has a single, broad, dark, vertical stripe on each cheek, below the eye, it’s a Peregrine Falcon. This is a called a malar stripe.
• If it has no obvious malar stripe, it’s not a Peregrine. (American Kestrels have thinner, double stripes.)
• If it’s perched on a highrise, radio tower, smokestack or other very tall structure, it may well be a Peregrine.
• If it’s perched on a wire, a fence or a post, it’s almost certainly not a Peregrine.
• If it’s perched in a tree, it may or may not be a Peregrine. They sometimes perch in tall trees near large bodies of water, but are not generally seen in residential areas.
• If it’s hunting or feeding in an urban backyard, it’s probably not a Peregrine. They catch their prey in mid-air and carry it to a high perch.
• If it has a nest in a tree, it’s not a Peregrine.
• Merlins and Cooper’s Hawks are the raptors most often seen in Ottawa-area backyards. They also prey on other birds, but both lack the Peregrine’s dark hood and malar stripes.
• Other birds of prey you may see in the Ottawa area include the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Osprey, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Goshawk and Turkey Vulture.
• If you hear the bird calling, compare the sound to those made by the Peregrine Falcon.
• Cornell University’s All About Birds site is an excellent resource for identification.
• The Peregrine Fund website also has a section on raptors, including identification.