North American field guide
Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
Identification
Field notes
39-50 cm (16-19") Uncommon. Western prairies, open country.
Large falcon - crow size; light brown above; dark thin sideburns; white throat; spots or streaks on creamy white breast and belly; long, pointed wings; long, banded tail.
Immature: brown above; heavily streaked below.
In flight; all birds show distinctive black wingpits against the light underside.
Catches birds on the wing or on the ground.
Song: harsh series of "ki-ki-ki-ki" notes.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
7d Video Prairie Falcon "Pluckin' Prairie Falcon"
Credit: Tom RyanPF Fledglings 05
Credit: MutemuleWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Prairie Falcon
2 rulesRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 3
- How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
- In flight
- What SHAPE were the wings ?
- Pointed · Unknown
- What SIZE was the TAIL ?
- Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
- Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- Dark and light bands across it · None · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized · Goose-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Hawk-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States
Rule 2 10 criteria · confidence 3
- How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
- While landed
- What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?
- Dark and light bands across it · None · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
- Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Very short · Short · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized · Goose-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Hawk-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States