Animal Art

Prairie Falcon

(falcon mexican)

Prairie Falcons are probably just as fast as Peregrine Falcons, but do not typically use the same hunting strategy, preferring to fly fast and low at a height of only a few feet or so. They are similar in size and can be distinguished from each other by color. The Prairie Falcon is brown and has dark patches under the wings, while the Peregrine is blue-fray and has a uniform under wing color pattern. Prairie Falcons cruising speed is estimated at 45 mph and accelerates in the chase. They typically catch birds by pursuing them in level flight and grasping them, less often knocking them down in spectacular dives like the Peregrine. Prairie Falcons inhabit hills, canyons, and mountains of arid grasslands and shrub-steppes of southwestern Canada, western United States, Baja California, and northern Mexico.

Wildlife artist Kathie Miller has rendered this beautiful bird with colored pencils.