Falcon

A falcon (/ˈfɔːlkən, ˈfæl-/) is any one of 37 species of raptors in the genus Falco, widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica.

Adult falcons have thin, tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and to change direction rapidly. Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers, which make their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such as a broadwing. This makes it easier to fly while learning the exceptional skills required to be effective hunters as adults.

The falcons are the largest genus in the Falconinae subfamily of Falconidae, which itself also includes another subfamily comprising caracaras and a few other species. All these birds kill with their beaks, using a "tooth" on the side of their beaks — unlike the hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey in Accipitridae, which use their feet.

Peregrine falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth. Other falcons include the gyrfalcon, lanner falcon, and merlin. Some small falcons with long, narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which hover while hunting are called kestrels.

Falcons (disambiguation)

Falcons are a genus of raptor (bird of prey).

Falcons may also refer to:

See also

Falcons (rugby team)

The Falcons – better known by their Afrikaans name the Valke and currently known as the Hino Valke for sponsorship reasons – are a South African rugby union team in Gauteng province that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments.

Their home ground is currently Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, to which they have returned in 2009. The Falcons have operated out of both Bosman Stadium in Brakpan and Pam Brink Stadium in Springs. They occasionally still host matches at Bosman Stadium. The Falcons draw players from Ekurhuleni and other municipalities to the east and south of Johannesburg.

History

The Falcons Rugby Union was originally founded in 1947, and was previously known as the Eastern Transvaal Rugby Football Union. After the 1995 World Cup, rugby was declared a professional sport in South Africa, after which the Eastern Transvaal Rugby Football Union merged with the Vaal Triangle Rugby Union to form the Gauteng Falcons Rugby Union and are one of only fourteen Provincial Unions in the country.

Azul

Azul may refer to:

Azul (baseball)

Azul were a Cuban baseball team in the Cuban League. They played from 1904 to 1908.

Notable players

References

Azul (Los Piojos album)

Azul (Blue) is the fourth album by Argentine rock band Los Piojos, recorded at Del Cielito Records studio and released in 1998. This work mixes candombe and murga with the traditional rhythms used by the band and was presented live in Parque Sarmiento and at the All Boys stadium.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Victor W. Valdivia awarded the album 4 stars stating "Los Piojos are amazingly eclectic in their approach to music... they incorporate reggae and Caribbean rhythms, but they also show an influence of classic rock and alternative. That's not to say that they don't explore their Latin roots on various instances... The lyrics are also wide-ranging, veering from nakedly revealing self-portraits to Michael Stipe-like inscrutability. As diverse as the album gets, though, nothing ever feels forced or contrived. Azul is the only one of Los Piojos' four albums available in the U.S, but it is a superb introduction to their talent and may inspire listeners to seek out their earlier releases.".