Peregrines have never been common birds. Traditionally, they nest on ledges of high cliffs in remote areas. In cities, they use niches along ledges, such as inset windows or window boxes. The nest itself is little more than a shallow scrape, shaped by the birds in soil or accumulated debris. The nest holds the three or four eggs, slightly smaller than those laid by chickens, that are mottled with a dark, reddish-brown pigment.
Chicks are helpless when they hatch, but grow rapidly.
When they are about three weeks old, they begin to explore their surroundings. They frequently leave the nest depression, walking as far as they can get a foothold. Their first flights occur when the chicks are about six weeks old. After several weeks of practice, the young birds have acquired the flight skills needed to catch their own food. They no longer rely on the adults to provide prey and, by late summer, have typically left the city in which they were reared.