The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) breeds from southern British Columbia south to north-central Mexico and western Texas. It spends its winters within its breeding range, including Central Oregon and farther east into the Great Plains states. Their preferred habitats include dry plains, sagebrush, desolate mountains and

prairies.

Prairie falcons in summer eat mostly small mammals, particularly ground squirrels. They also eat pikas, birds, and insects.

During courtship, the male and female spend a month or more visiting potential nest sites together. The site they select is most often in a natural crevice, pothole, or ledge on a cliff or steep bluff, with an overhang to protect the nest. It often shares its nesting cliff with ravens, golden eagles, and red-tailed hawks. Two to six creamy white eggs are laid and incubated for 29-39 days, and the young leave the nest in approximately 45 days.

The prairie falcon was first described in 1850 by Hermann Schlegel, a German ornithologist, and is similar in size to the peregrine falcon, 15 to 19 inches tall with a wingspan of 35 to 45 inches.

A group of falcons are referred to as an “eyrie,” “tower,” “bazaar,” “stooping up,” or a “ringing up.”

To view more images of the prairie falcon, visit http://abirdsingsbecauseithasa

song.com/recent-journeys.