Falcons and Caracaras: Falconidae

Falcons are powerful predators, animals that hunt others for food, and they are most likely the fastest flying birds of prey. Most of them hunt during the day, but several species also hunt after dark.

Most species in this family breed once a year. Except for the caracaras, they do not build nests. They lay their eggs in holes in trees and rocky cliffs or in the old nests of other birds. Usually the female sits on the eggs and stays with the young while the male brings food to her and the chicks. Young falcons depend on their parents for help with catching food for a while after they can fly.