Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

OrderFalconiformes

FamilyFalconidae

HabitatOpen grassland, desert, farmland, and canyon cliffs

SeasonYear-round in the Trans-Pecos; winter visitor to the Panhandle and South Plains

LocationCR 13 Playa, Tulia, Texas, Swisher County, Texas

Size15-18.5 inches, wingspan 35-43 inches

DietGround squirrels, Horned Larks, meadowlarks, and other open-country prey

ConservationLeast Concern (IUCN)

CameraNikon Z9Lens800mmAperturef/8Shutter1/2500ISO400

Prairie Falcon perched on a pole at a Swisher County playa.

About the Prairie Falcon

The Prairie Falcon is the pale, sandy falcon of the western plains. It is close to a Peregrine in size, but its plumage matches the dry grass it hunts over. The clinching field mark appears in flight: dark patches at the base of the underwing, often called its dark armpits.

It hunts low and fast. A Prairie Falcon will cruise just above the ground and surprise a ground squirrel or a flock of larks, then chase it down with a burst of speed. In winter it follows the longspur and lark flocks across open farmland.

These photographs come from two Panhandle and South Plains trips: a playa in Swisher County on October 1, 2025, and along Highway 137 near Lamesa in Dawson County on December 30, 2025.

Want to see a Prairie Falcon in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours! Fine art prints of my photos are also available.

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