Pitt peregrine chicks at 4 weeks old, 23 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

24 May 2026

As of Saturday 23 May, the Pitt peregrine chicks reached the age of four weeks old. Here’s a look at their development in the past week in a day-by-day slideshow from the National Aviary’s falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning. The age span is 22 to 28 days, date span is 17-23 May 2026.

As you watch the slideshow notice how the chicks change from mostly white to very speckled.

At 25 days (on Banding Day): Their body contour and back feathers are visible and they begin to stand and walk on their feet though they still rest on their tarsi (heels).  Because they’re standing up they have room to flap their wings.

Wingercise! at 25 days old (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 27 days : Regularly walk on feet rather than tarsi (heels).

Walking upright (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 28 days (4 weeks): Body feathers give the chicks a speckled look that camouflages them on the nest.  They beg loudly. Their wings look longer and fuller as the wing feathers grow.  Now they will open their wings and run across the gravel surface.  They have not left the nest surface yet. 

The following 2+ minutes of their activity shows those traits.

In the week ahead their feathers will grow rapidly and push out the down and they will spend a lot their time preening.

Watch the Pitt peregrine chicks grow and change at the National Aviary falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning.