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A photo of a Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Prairie Falcon

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

The prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) is a medium-large sized falcon of western North America. It is about the size of a peregrine falcon or a crow, with an average length of 40 cm (16 in), wingspan of approximately 1 meter (40 in), and average weight of 720 g (1.6 lb). As in all falcons, females are noticeably bigger than males. Though a separate species from the peregrine, the prairie falcon is basically an arid environment adaptation of the early peregrine falcon lineage, able to subsist on less food than the peregrine, and generally lighter in weight than a peregrine of similar wing span. Having evolved in a harsh desert environment with low prey density, the prairie falcon has developed into an aggressive and opportunistic hunter of a wide range of both mammal and bird prey. It will regularly take prey from the size of sparrows to approximately its own weight, and occasionally much larger. It is the only larger falcon native only to North America. It is resident from southern Canada, through western United States, and into northern Mexico. The prairie falcon is popular as a falconry bird, where with proper training it is regarded as being as effective as the more well known peregrine falcon.
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Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Alex Wight
Alex Wight
Sunday 03 Sep 2023 - 10:19pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Alex Wight
Alex Wight
Wednesday 16 Aug 2023 - 1:43pm
United States
A map showing the sighting location
🐦
Erik Berndes
Monday 24 Jul 2023 - 1:41am
United States
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Alex Wight
Alex Wight
Wednesday 12 Jul 2023 - 11:15pm
United States
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