A-review of taxonomic concepts for the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregri- subspecies in the Western Palearctic

摘要

The Peregrine Falcon Fatoperegrinus has almost cosmopolitan distribution. Taxonomicpositions of its populations in the majority of world regions are well established and do not raise many arguments. The only exception concerns Palearctic populations especially within its west region (the Western Palearctic). The reasons for that are: 1) A major part of the species continental range lies within the Palearctic region, this determines clynal variability of many characteristic features of the species here; 2) A relatively high level of individual variations within local populations which could probably appear due to wide dispersion of young Peregrines; 3) Inadequate consideration of age plumage variations in birds older than two years; 4) Involvement of many outstanding past and present authors into periodical taxonomic revisions of the species. A review of basic systems of taxonomic divisions for the Falco peregrinus populations within the Western Palearctic is presented. Among these systems the basic divisionjor two groups (P.p. calidus + F.p. peregrinus and F.p. brookei) is argumented as the best supported by facts.