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• The Prairie Falcon is typically a bird of barren mountains, desert buttes, dry plains, and (of course) prairies.
• In direct, unaided flight (e.g., with no wind or gravitational assistance), the Prairie Falcon is a faster, stronger flier than the Peregrine Falcon.
• It should be no surprise, then, that the Prairie Falcon depends on speed and surprise to capture its prey.
• The diet of the Prairie Falcons, which naturally varies both by season and by location, typically consists of small mammals (e.g., ground squirrels) and birds, which are usually captured while in flight. Large insects (e.g., locusts and katydids) may also be a major dietary component, especially during insect blooms.
• For both small mammal and avian prey, Prairie Falcons typically hunt by flying fast and low, only a few feet above the ground, utilizing a surprise encounter and attack strategy.
• The Prairie Falcon typically catches birds by pursuing them in level flight and grasping them; small mammals are grabbed from the ground in the falcon’s sharp talons. Captured prey are then carried to a perch/butcher block or nest for disposition.
• Prairie Falcons commonly dust-bathe because of the general scarcity of standing water in its habitats.
• Adult female Prairie Falcons are 20-30% larger than adult male Prairie Falcons.
• In their cliff nests Prairie Falcons dig out a small scrape to hold their eggs, but don’t add nest material.
• Nearly 75% of the young Prairie Falcons die during their first year due to heat stress, depredation, starvation, or disease (or some combination of these factors).