Question: What raptor found in Collier County is also called a "duck hawk"?
Answer: It's the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). This other common name originated when farmers would see them snatch ducks from their ponds. The Peregrine typically hunts medium-sized birds.
It is a very fast flier, averaging 25-34 mph in traveling flight, and reaching speeds up to 69 mph in direct pursuit of prey. During its spectacular hunting stoop from heights of over 3000 feet, the Peregrine has been documented at speeds of around 120 mph but has been reported to reach speeds of 200 mph as it drops toward its prey.
People have trained falcons for hunting for over a thousand years, and a favorite was the Peregrine which is found on all continents except Antartica. Efforts to breed Peregrines in captivity and reestablish populations depleted during the DDT years were greatly assisted by the existence of breeding methods developed by falconers.