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Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
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About the Prairie Falcon
The prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) 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.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Falco mexicanus
- Family
- Falcons and Caracaras
- Order
- Falconiformes
Similar species
Other members of the falcons and caracaras family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius
- Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis
- Barred Forest-Falcon Micrastur ruficollis
- Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
- Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus
- Crested Caracara Caracara plancus
- Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo
- Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
- Guadalupe Caracara Caracara lutosa
- Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
- Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans
Know when the Prairie Falcon turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting Prairie Falcon
Optics
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Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
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