Falcons are raptors, birds of prey that feed exclusively on meat. Their young are entirely dependent on their parents for food. A baby falcon is first a downy nestling, or chick, unable to regulate its own temperature or feed itself. From the moment they hatch, adult falcons meticulously provide a specialized, carnivorous diet until the young can hunt independently.
The Initial Diet of Very Young Falcons
For the first week or two of life, a newly hatched falcon chick requires a highly nutritious and easily digestible diet. Parents focus on providing concentrated protein and fat, typically the soft muscle tissue of captured prey. For Peregrine Falcons, this primarily means small birds, while smaller falcons, such as the American Kestrel, may deliver large insects or rodents.
The first meals are small and frequent, ensuring the chick’s tiny digestive system is not overwhelmed. Prey delivered during this early nestling phase is often smaller than what adults usually eat, making it softer and easier to process. This attention to prey size is crucial for the rapid growth characterizing the first few weeks of life. The parents also instinctively provide necessary moisture, as the chicks do not drink water directly.
Parental Preparation and Feeding Methods
Adult falcons act as both hunter and chef, preparing whole-carcass prey into perfectly sized portions. Initially, the female does the majority of the direct feeding, especially during the first week when she is brooding the young. The male typically hunts and delivers the prey to the nest, where the female takes over preparation.
Preparation involves a precise sequence, starting with the removal of indigestible parts like tough feathers and bones. The female uses her sharp beak and talons to pluck the prey, then meticulously tears the meat into tiny, moist strips. She physically places these small pieces into the chick’s gaping mouth, a behavior known as feeding. This hands-on method ensures the young receive only the most digestible parts, allowing for maximum nutrient absorption and growth.
Transitioning to Self-Feeding and Adult Prey
As the chicks grow into fledglings, typically around three to six weeks old, their dietary needs and feeding behavior change dramatically. Parents begin to bring larger, less-prepared pieces of prey, signaling the start of the self-feeding transition. They may drop a partially plucked carcass into the nest area, encouraging the young falcons to practice tearing the meat themselves.
The fledging period begins when the young birds leave the nest and is a prolonged phase of dependence lasting several weeks or months. During this time, parents continue to provision food, but they also use aerial delivery, known as prey transfer, to teach hunting skills. The adult passes the prey mid-air to the fledgling, encouraging the development of the speed and coordination necessary for independence. The young bird’s diet gradually shifts to whole prey as its digestive system matures, culminating in full independence when it captures its first adult-sized meal.