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 an arid-climate divergence of earlier peregrine falcon lineage. It is thus able to thrive in dryland ecosystems 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 take prey from the size of sparrows or finches to birds approximately its own weight, and occasionally much larger.

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.

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