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Quick Take
The video shows a peregrine falcon attacking a red fox.
Peregrine falcons do not hunt foxes for food; they mainly feed on birds.
The falcon in the clip is defending their nest.
The bird is using a stoop and punch technique that it usually reserved for hunting.
Peregrine falcons are less than half the size of a red fox, yet this shocking video clip shows that the bird has the upper hand when it comes to combat. In this brutal encounter, the raptor dives at the beleaguered fox, repeatedly knocking the predator off its feet and even appearing to render it unconscious at one point! Take a look at the bruising encounter for yourself, before learning about the likely story of such a battle.
Is the Peregrine Falcon Hunting the Fox?
Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) are members of the Falconidae family and are found throughout the world, except in rainforests and cold, dry Arctic regions. They like to live in open habitats, such as grasslands, tundra, and meadows.
These raptors do not prey on foxes, instead feeding almost exclusively on other birds, including mourning doves, pigeons, and waterfowl. However, they occasionally eat small reptiles and mammals such as bats, rodents, and squirrels.
Peregrine falcons can reach 180 mph.
©Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.com
(Harry Collins Photography/Shutterstock.com)
That said, the skills displayed in the clip have been honed by hunting. Falcons generally attack from above; once prey is spotted, they enter into a dive, called a stoop. During this process, they can reach speeds of up to 240 mph (386 km/h), making them the fastest animals on the planet!
Watch the video closely, and you can see how the bird starts the dive in a headfirst position. At the last second, it brings its talons forward, curls one of its feet into a fist, and punches the fox, sending him tumbling down the hill.
Why Is the Falcon Attacking the Fox?
This confrontation is all about defense, as the peregrine falcon has a nest filled with chicks nearby. These birds are known to be highly aggressive when defending their nests and are willing to attack animals much larger than themselves.
Red foxes hunt peregrine falcon nestlings and fledglings.
©AngelaLouwe/Shutterstock.com
(AngelaLouwe/Shutterstock.com)
While adult falcons are near the top of the food chain and have very few predators (great horned owls, gyrfalcons, and golden eagles), the same cannot be said of their eggs and chicks. Nestlings and fledglings can easily be taken by foxes if the predator gets a chance. However, nests tend to be on cliff faces or tall structures so they cannot be reached. On top of strategic nest placement, falcons utilize impressive defenses, like those seen in the amazing video above.
Watch the Video
Click here to watch the video.
The post Falcon vs. Fox: Watch This Raptor Punch a Predator appeared first on A-Z Animals.