Indivdual Lanner Falcons vary quite a bit in size and coloration depending on the region in which they live. Key field marks that distinquish this falcon from the Peregrine are the dark wing pits, narrower facial mustache, and paler brown plumage. Prairie falcons are commonly mistaken for the Peregrine Falcon. Peregrine's have a larger and darker 'mustache' as well as overall darker body marks. Five different species of falcon have been observed in Indiana. Prairie Falcon for sure. However, the Lanner Falcon sports a reddish cap on the top of its head, which helps distinguish it from many other similarly-colored falcons. Dark underwing-bars visible in flight. The Prairie Falcon nests on cliffs along waterways as well as cliffs in the dryer habitats. The other two species, the peregrine falcon and the American kestrel are more common and both nest in the state. Female falcons are usually larger than male and both the mates are known to take care of their offspring. In certain areas, Prairie Falcons eat birds such as meadowlarks, Horned Larks, and pipits equally as often or more so as small mammals. Prairie & Peregrine Falcons. Contrary to the Falcons, the Hawks belong to a number of genes. In certain cases, it has been found that falcons can also reach a speed of up to 242 mph (389 km/h). Prairie falcons are commonly mistaken for the Peregrine Falcon. Similar in size to the Peregrine Falcon, the Prairie Falcon is a fairly common resident of open spaces in the Western U.S. Sometimes alternates several rapid wing beats with a glide. Open playback settings menu for autoplay and video quality settings The Lanner Falcon physically resembles the Peregrine Falcon in many ways. Went out to the park I always go to, this morning there were a couple Peregrines and a female prairie falcon chasing each other around, and I took about 500 pictures of them. By the early 1960s DDT poisoning had extirpated peregrine falcons from the region, leaving prairie falcons as the only large falcon species breeding in the park. Prairie Falcon: Medium falcon with brown upperparts, dark-spotted pale underparts, dark brown moustache stripe. It also appears to be eating some sort of small mammal which is the Prairie Falcon speciality compared to the Peregrine that specializes in avian prey. Key field marks that distinquish this falcon from the Peregrine are the dark wing pits, narrower facial mustache, and paler brown plumage. Hawk Facts and Information. Feeds on small birds and mammals, and large insects. A spirit of cooperation, however, is helping to decrease this threat. Gyrfalcons and prairie falcons have only rarely been seen, while a few merlins migrate through the state annually. The Lanner Falcon physically resembles the Peregrine Falcon in many ways. Title: Prairie and Peregrine Falcon Comparison Location: Prairie - Box Elder County, Utah, Peregrine - Davis County, Utah Date: Prairie - 1/13/2017, Peregrine - 1/27/2017 Two photos in … The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae. You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more. The Gyrfalcon vs the Peregrine falcon. The Prairie Falcon is similar to the Peregrine Falcon in size and plumage. Indivdual Lanner Falcons vary quite a bit in size and coloration depending on the region in which they live. The peregrine falcon can fly with a normal speed of 200 mph (320 km/h) while diving. While most commonly found in open grasslands of the West, they have adapted to a human presence by sometimes frequenting urban areas during the winter, taking advantage of the steady of supply of "urbanized" birds. Soon rock climbing began to rise in popularity, increasing the threat of human disturbance to nesting prairie falcons. This is my favorite so far, an immature male peregrine diving on a female prairie Falcon. Unlike the similar Peregrine Falcon, Prairie hunts primarily ground squirrels during summer, which are captured through low, surprise attack flight, as well as by perch hunting. With a wingspan of about 40 inches, the peregrine falcon reaches flying speeds of 40–55 mph, and dives at more than 200 mph when striking avian prey in mid-air. Swift flight with rapid wing beats.