Bible Birds – Falcons | Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Bible Birds – Falcons

Peregrine Falcon on Watch! by Ray

Peregrine Falcon by Ray

“And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the kite, and the falcon after its kind;” (Leviticus 11:13-14 NKJV)

The Falcon is mentioned in three verses in the New King James Version of the Bible. Leviticus 11:14; [above]; “the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds;” (Deuteronomy 14:13 NKJV); and “That path no bird knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.” (Job 28:7 NKJV)

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) ©©

Other versions of the Bible also list the Falcon.

* These are the translations that use falcon in Deuteronomy 14:13: (From BibleGateway)

ASV and the glede, and the falcon, and the kite after its kind,
AMP and the red kite, the falcon, and the birds of prey of any variety,
CSB the kites, any kind of falcon,
DARBY and the falcon, and the kite, and the black kite after its kind;
ERV red kites, falcons, any kind of kite,
ESV the kite, the falcon of any kind;
ESVUK the kite, the falcon of any kind;
EXB red kites, falcons, any kind of kite,
HCSB the kite, any kind of falcon,
ICB red kites, falcons, any kind of kite,
MEV the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after its kind,
NABRE the various kites and falcons,
NASB and the red kite, the falcon, and the kite in their kinds,
NCV red kites, falcons, any kind of kite,
NIRV They include red kites, black kites and all kinds of falcons.
NIV the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon,
NIVUK the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon,
NKJV the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds;
NLV the red kite, the falcon, every kind of kite,
NLT the kite, the falcon, buzzards of all kinds,
WEB the red kite, the falcon, the kite of any kind,

Did you notice the other birds mentioned in these verses? Many of them are Kites, including Red and Black Kites. The Glede is mentioned in one verse and is closely related to the Kites. See Bible Birds – Gledes and Kites. The Kites, Gledes, and our Falcons are considered Birds of Prey.

There are currently 66 Falcons in the Falconidae Family.