Peregrine falcons are fascinating birds of prey that can reach speeds of over 200 mph when diving for prey. An important part of their life cycle is the incubation and hatching of their eggs. So how long do peregrine falcon eggs take to hatch?
Incubation Period
The incubation period for peregrine falcon eggs is 29-32 days. The female peregrine falcon lays between 3-4 eggs and begins incubating them after the second or third egg is laid. She sits tight on the nest, only leaving for brief periods to eat prey brought by the male. The eggs must be kept at a constant temperature of about 99-102°F for proper development. To achieve this, the mother falcon rotates the eggs periodically and also relies on her warm body brooding the eggs directly.
Both the male and female peregrine contribute to incubating the eggs, but the female takes on the majority of responsibilities. The male may incubate up to 25% of the time. If the eggs become chilled, development is halted. So the parents make sure to maintain adequate incubation until the eggs are ready to hatch.
Incubation Temperature
As mentioned, peregrine falcon eggs require consistent temperatures between 99-102°F for optimal development during incubation. Cooler temperatures will slow or stop growth. If eggs become too cold for too long, the embryos inside can die. So the mother pays close attention to egg temperature and adjusts her brooding as needed. An increase in incubation temperature by about 1°F occurs naturally during the last 2-3 days before hatching.
Turning the Eggs
In addition to warmth, turning the eggs periodically is important. The parent falcons turn their eggs frequently, as often as every hour during the day. Turning prevents the embryos from sticking to the inside of the egg and promotes muscle development and growth. The increased metabolism from embryo growth produces more heat, which the attentive parents detect and adjust their incubation accordingly.
Hatching Process
It takes 29-32 days, on average 31 days, for peregrine falcon eggs to hatch. The hatching process begins with pipping, when the chick starts to break through the egg shell from the inside using its egg tooth. Pipping can take 24-48 hours to complete before the chick fully emerges.
Pipping
Pipping begins when the fully developed chick pecks a small hole in the egg shell, usually at the broader end. The chick continues to peck the hole bigger in order to breathe air from outside the egg. An egg tooth on its beak temporary aids the pipping process but falls off soon after hatching. It takes 12-24 hours from the initial pips to fully penetrate the air cell.
After breathing air from the air cell, the chick continues to pip around the circumference of the shell until making a capped hole. This takes another 12-24 hours. The cap pushes off as the chick keeps pipping the rest of the shell. Pipping can take 1-2 days total before the chick fully emerges.
Hatching
Once pipping complete, the peregrine falcon chick uses its shoulders and feet to push apart the halves of its cracked egg shell. The chick may rest periodically before resuming its efforts. Slits gradually appear in the shell as it works its way out. Eventually the chick fully escapes the confines of the egg and takes its first look at the outside world!
Hatching occurs asynchronously over 1-5 days. The eggs tend to hatch in the order they were laid. The parents continue to brood the remaining eggs until all surviving chicks have hatched. The hatchlings are covered in white down and pretty helpless. But they grow and fledge quickly under the care of their devoted parents.
Factors Affecting Incubation and Hatching
Several factors can influence the incubation period and hatching process of peregrine falcon eggs:
Egg Size
Larger eggs take longer to hatch than smaller ones, but not by much. Jumbo peregrine eggs may pip and hatch towards the end of the normal 29-32 day period.
Incubation Constancy
Consistent temperature is critical. Frequent or prolonged chilling of the eggs can delay hatching time considerably or cause embryo death.
Parental Experience
Inexperienced parents may not incubate as efficiently or maintain proper egg turning. This can extend incubation a day or two past normal.
Egg Fertility
Infertile eggs that never develop an embryo will not hatch despite full incubation. Early embryo death can also occur.
Egg Damage
Structural damage like cracks or punctures can impact the hatchability of an egg and cause premature pipping.
Hatching Synchrony
When eggs hatch closer together rather than spread out over several days, incubation duration is more uniform.
Environmental Factors
Extreme weather, diet, toxins and other environmental elements may affect egg health and developmental rate.
Conclusion
The incubation period for peregrine falcon eggs from the start of incubation to pipping is approximately 29-32 days on average. Pipping itself takes 24-48 hours until the chick fully hatches. So under normal conditions, expect the peregrine falcon hatching process to last about a month. However, various factors like egg size, temperature fluctuations, parental care and egg quality can influence incubation duration and hatching success.