Migration of a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus over water in the vicinity of a Hurricane

Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus migrating over the Gulf of Mexico have limited perching opportunities and can encounter weather that impedes southward movement. In 1998 we tracked via satellite a migrating second‐year female Peregrine during 79 days from Assateague Island, Virginia, USA, to inland Venezuela, and related its movement to local weather conditions, especially during its crossing of the Gulf where it encountered weather affected by Hurricane Mitch. We document Peregrine migration in extreme weather conditions and highlight the importance of tailwinds and updraughts, especially during the water crossing – even for a Peregrine, which is not adapted for soaring flight. Analyses of the large pool of data from migrating Peregrines fitted with satellite‐received transmitters in relation to weather are lacking.