The remains of a peregrine falcon have been found in Paget after possibly being struck by a car.

Luke Fountain said he discovered the body of the bird of prey on top of a dead chicken near Coral Beach last Friday.

“It was evident that the hawk had been feasting on the dead chicken and had been struck by a car,” he said. “It was still warm when I picked it up.”

He said he took photographs of the bird and placed it by a utility pole, but it had been removed when he later returned.

Peregrine falcons are known for their speed, which can exceed 320kph.

They typically feed on medium-sized birds, but also target rodents and lizards.

While the species can be found across the world, Andrew Dobson, of the Bermuda Audubon Society, said that fewer than ten of the falcons visit the Island a year, usually arriving in the autumn.

“The peregrine is a supreme hunter and one of the fastest birds in the world,” he said.

“Seeing the blood around its face could either be the result of what it had just been eating or perhaps it flew into a window, which is a cause of far too many bird deaths

“When freshly dead birds are found, especially the unusual ones, people are encouraged to take them to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where they may be valuable museum specimens.”