Photo: U.S. Geological Survey / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Prairie Falcon
Falco mexicanus
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 713 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Falco
- Species mexicanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 713 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Prairie Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Prairie Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) belongs to the Falconidae family of the order Falconiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sc Canada to sc USA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 713 g, with a wing length of about 32.5 cm and a tail of around 18.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Prairie Falcon?
The Prairie Falcon is a large bird that weighs around 713 g.
Where does the Prairie Falcon live?
The Prairie Falcon is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sc Canada to sc USA, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Prairie Falcon belong to?
The Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Prairie Falcon eat?
The Prairie Falcon preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Prairie Falcon migrate?
The Prairie Falcon is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Prairie Falcon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Prairie Falcon make?
1 real field recording of the Prairie Falcon — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Prairie Falcon's range?
The Prairie Falcon has a mapped global range of about 4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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