Peregrines are probably the fastest of all animals under their own power; in a dive they can exceed 200 mph (320 km/h).   They have captured the imagination of people for thousands of years and are considered the ultimate falconer's bird.   Adults (this page) are slate-blue above and barred below; juveniles (shown here and here) are brownish above and variably streaked below.  At all ages, peregrines have very big feet, a characteristic stiff, powerful flight, and a dark 'helmet' that permits identification at long distances.   This juvenile female was eating (or had just eaten) a coot or a ruddy duck at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Riverside, California. Pictures of adults from the same site are here.

• Canon 7D2; 800 mm IS lens, most with 1.4X converter and fill-in flash (2015)