Both parents and four chicks during Week 3, 14 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at the Univ of Pittsburgh)

19 May 2026

As of last Saturday, 16 May, the Pitt peregrine chicks were three weeks old. Here’s a look at their development to reach Week 3 in a day-by-day slideshow from the National Aviary’s falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning. The age span is 15 to 21 days, date span is 10-16 May 2026.

As you watch the slideshow notice how fast the chicks are growing. There’s a big change in seven days.

At 15 days: Chicks now sit upright and alert. Their primaries have emerged from the feather sheaths. (photo below)

Notice that primaries have emerged from feather sheaths as this youngster flaps, 14 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at the Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 16 to 19 days: Chicks grow quickly during this period and become covered in heavy down. They motor around the nest on their heels (tarsi).

At 20 Days: Heavy down is complete. Dark contour feathers are visible on their wing edges. Chicks now have a “face.”

At 21 days (3 weeks old) face is defined, body has heavy down, flight feather edges show contour of wings, 16 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh)

At 21 Days (3 weeks):  Chicks are now nearly the same size as their parents. Feathers define their faces. Wing and tail feather tips define their contours. Chicks very active on gravel surface and often sleep individually instead of in a pile.

By next Saturday their dark brown wing and tail feathers and their growing body feathers will give them a speckly brown-on-white look.

Watch the Pitt peregrines grow up at the National Aviary falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning.