Common Names: Prairie hawk, American Lanier, Bullet hawk

Etymology: falco (Latin) - refers to sickle-shaped talons or the shape of the wingsin flight; mexicanus (Latin) - referring to Mexico, where prairie falcons were first collected for study

Description: Prairie falcons are a medium sized falcon, similar in size to the peregrine falcon. They are characterized by light sandy-brown colored plumage on the back and wings. The chest is whitish with brown spots and bars. Their head is often described as “blocky” in appearance, with a white stripe behind the eye, and the dark malar mark characteristic of falcons. In flight, prairie falcons have a noticeable dark patch in their “armpits” and light barring underneath their tail. There is no color difference between the genders, but females are noticeably larger. Immature birds are similar to the adults except the chest is streaked with brown instead of spotted or barred.

Flight: Prairie falcons have quick wing beats described as more stiff and mechanical than the peregrine falcon’s. They employ many methods for hunting. The two most common are perch hunting and stooping on their prey. However, unlike the peregrine, prairie falcons stoop indirectly at their prey, coming down several hundred yards away and then gliding up to prey just above the ground. Another common hunting method is cruising low over the ground until prey is surprised and flushed, and which point the prairie falcon will end the hunt with a swift dash. They have also been known to hover-hunt like American kestrels.

Voice: A harsh ree-kree-kree-kree…. Similar to a peregrine, but higher. Also a high, rising keeeee, repeated.

Habitat: Prairie falcons are most commonly found in arid open country, such as dry grassland, deserts, canyon lands, foothills and alpine tundra. During the winter months, they can be found in cultivated fields and lake shores. They tend to avoid heavily wooded areas, but prefer habitat with some perch sites such as sparse trees, snags, rock faces, utility poles and wires, or hay bales. Curiously they are not found in true prairies as their name suggests. Since their habitat is so arid, prairie falcons will commonly dust bathe.

Distribution: The prairie falcon is the only falcon whose range is restricted to North America. Their breeding range extends from southwestern Canada to Northern Mexico and east to Saskatchewan, western Nebraska and western Texas. Their wintering range is further south to central Mexico and further east to Minnesota and eastern Texas.

Nesting: They usually begin breeding at two years old. The male performs acrobatics and power dives for the female during courtship. They do not build nests, but usually make only a small scraping on a sheltered cliff ledge or in a hole in eroded river banks. Old stick nests from other birds are also sometimes used. They lay anywhere from 2-7 eggs, normally 4-5, in early April. The eggs are buffy colored with brown spotting. Incubation is mostly by the female though the male helps; incubation lasts 29-33 days. The young hatch at 1 to 2 day intervals, and fledge at 35-42 days old.

Food: Prairie falcons will capture food on the ground, unlike peregrine falcons. They hunt prey that is locally abundant: mainly ground squirrels during the breeding season, and mainly ground-dwelling and flocking birds such as Horned larks, starlings, and western meadowlarks during the winter. Prairie falcons are, however, opportunists and will go after any medium sized birds or mammals as well as lizards, snakes and sometimes large insects such as grasshoppers, locusts, dragonflies and scorpions.