Prairie Falcon
by Karen Slagle
Title
Prairie Falcon
Artist
Karen Slagle
Medium
Photograph
Description
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,[2] 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.[3] 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.
Uploaded
December 6th, 2021
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Comments (18)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2022 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2022 Featured Image Archive" Discussion
Adriana Mueller
The Falcon's plumage appears very elegant against the clear, blue sky. Stunning pose and fantastic details! This photo is wonderful, Karen! l/f
Debby Pueschel
Truly a beautiful and magnificent bird!!! Congratulations on your feature in Wild Birds of the World! FL
Dawn Currie
Congratulations! This fine image of an identified wild bird is now featured on the homepage of Wild Birds Of The World - A Nature Photography Group. Please take a moment to add it to the 2021 Features Archive and Thanks discussion for additional visibility.
Rebecca Grzenda
Wonderful capture of this beautiful falcon!! Fantastic detail all the way down to the talons, Karen!!!!