Falco Mexicanus

Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus

On Saturday I spotted this Prairie Falcon at the edge of the Fort Pierre National Grasslands. Even from a distance you can identify the bird as a Prairie Falcon by several key indicators: the prairie habitat; the general outline of the bird's shape; the long tail; the coloration; and upon close inspection, the black "mustache stripe." Prairie Falcons breed throughout much of western North America, but their breeding habitat in South Dakota is limited to rocky cliffs in the extreme western part of the state. In the winter they move farther east into the Great Plains, and are a common sight in central South Dakota.