Peregrine Falcon

Built for Speed

In level flight a peregrine is fast; in a hunting stoop - a near-vertical dive onto prey - it can top 240 mph, making it the fastest animal on earth. Zion's canyon updrafts and open airspace give the falcons room to hunt, and they take swifts, swallows, and other birds on the wing in spectacular fashion.

Cliff Nesters

Peregrines nest on high sandstone ledges each spring, and Zion's walls are prime territory. To protect active nests, the park closes certain climbing routes and occasionally trail sections seasonally - honoring those closures is part of keeping the falcons here. Once nearly wiped out by the pesticide DDT, peregrines have rebounded strongly across the West.

Where & When to See Them

Scan the high canyon walls throughout the park - peregrines are almost always spotted well above eye level, perched on a ledge or slicing across the canyon. They're present year-round but most active and visible during the spring nesting season.