COMMON NAME: Prairie Falcon
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Falco mexicanus
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Much larger than either the American kestrel or merlin, prairie falcons are
uniformly brown on the back and wings, with a pale head and streaked underside.
The head has a "blocky" or crew-cut appearance and the eyes seem
a little too large. In the field, prairie falcons can be recognized by their
large typical falcon profile and lack of color.
RANGE:
Found only in western North America, Baja, and northern Mexico, the prairie
falcon does not breed in Minnesota but can be seen here during spring and
fall migration. An occasional sighting is reported around the Twin Cities
area some
winters.
HABITAT:
Found in arid and semi-arid plains, this is a falcon of open country that
nests on rock cliffs in river gorges and occasionally in timbered mountains.
Nests
are often scraped on ledges although old stick nests of ravens or others
raptors will be used.
FEEDING HABITS:
Prairie falcons feed on a variety of prey, including ground squirrels and
prairie dogs, lizards, and birds, especially those that are ground dwelling.
Immature
birds eat large quantities of insects.
RAPTOR CENTER DATA:
Very few wild prairie falcons are admitted to the clinic, although falconers
will send birds in to be treated.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
Sometimes used in falconry, especially in the western states, prairie falcons
have no special conservation status.
Other Web Resources:
Teacher Lesson Plans
Prairie Falcon Range
Minnesota Ornithologists' Union bird range map
Additional Information (not specifically about falcons):
Publications
