Peregrine falcon

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

peregrine falcon
    n 1: a widely distributed falcon formerly used in falconry [syn:
         {peregrine}, {peregrine falcon}, {Falco peregrinus}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Peregrine \Per"e*grine\ (p[e^]r"[-e]*gr[i^]n; 277), a. [L.
   peregrinus. See {Pilgrim}.]
   Foreign; not native; extrinsic or from without; exotic.
   [Spelt also {pelegrine}.] "Peregrine and preternatural heat."
   --Bacon.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Peregrine falcon} (Zool.), a courageous and swift falcon
      ({Falco peregrinus}), remarkable for its wide distribution
      over all the continents. The adult plumage is dark bluish
      ash on the back, nearly black on the head and cheeks,
      white beneath, barred with black below the throat. Called
      also {peregrine hawk}, {duck hawk}, {game hawk}, and
      {great-footed hawk}.
      [1913 Webster]