Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
The Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) is a uncommon falcons and caracara found in 3 countries, weighing about 713 g. The prairie falcon is a medium-sized falcon found in Western North America.
About the Prairie Falcon
The prairie falcon is a medium-sized falcon found in Western North America. A separate species from the peregrine falcon, with which it shares some visual similarities, the prairie falcon is, essentially, an arid-climate divergence of earlier peregrine falcon lineage. It is thus able to thrive on a more meager, opportunistic diet compared to that of the peregrine, and is generally lighter in weight than a peregrine of similar wingspan. Having evolved in harsher and desert environments, often with low prey density, the prairie falcon has developed into an aggressive and opportunistic hunter of a wide range of both mammalian and avian prey, as well as occasional reptiles. It will regularly…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Voice: Calls, heard mostly near the nest, are described as repetitive kree kree kree…, kik kik kik…, and the like, similar to the peregrine's call but higher-pitched.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Prairie Falcon can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Prairie Falcon?
- Voice: Calls, heard mostly near the nest, are described as repetitive kree kree kree…, kik kik kik…, and the like, similar to the peregrine's call but higher-pitched.
- How big is a Prairie Falcon?
- The Prairie Falcon is a large sized bird weighing about 713 g.
- Where can you see a Prairie Falcon?
- The Prairie Falcon occurs in 3 countries, including the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- What birds look similar to a Prairie Falcon?
- The Prairie Falcon is most easily confused with the Brown Falcon, the Nankeen Kestrel and the Bat Falcon.
- Is the Prairie Falcon endangered?
- The Prairie Falcon is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Prairie Falcon for real
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