EAGLES, HAWKS, AND VULTURES 



91 



PRAIRIE FALCON 



{Falco mexicanus) 



V 



AUDUBON'S CARACARA 



This pale-colored falcon has the active, 

 graceful flight of the duck hawk. In a 

 way, it is the arid country representative 

 of that species, but may be distinguished 

 from it by smaller size and paler, sandy 

 coloration. 



The nest is placed on a cliff, being often 

 in a recess or small cave, where the eggs 

 are laid on the bare surface, with only 

 whatever rubbish may have accumulated 

 for nesting material. Two to five consti- 

 tute a complete set, three or four being the 

 customary complement. The ground color 

 of the eggs is creamy white, more or less 

 overlaid with a suffusion of cinnamon, and 

 blotches of reddish brown and chocolate. 

 They are considerably paler than the eggs 

 of the duck hawk. 



The prairie falcon feeds on birds of 

 various kinds, blackbirds, horned larks, 

 mourning doves, and others of similar size 

 being favorites. It captures quail and 

 prairie chickens on occasion, and also se- 

 cures domestic pigeons where flocks of 

 these are found within its range. 



I have seen them harry colonies of yel- 

 low-headed blackbirds so mercilessly that 

 these unfortunates set up a loud outcry 

 whenever a falcon appeared in the dis- 

 tance. The prairie falcon also feeds on 

 mammals, taking gophers, ground squir- 

 rels, and various kinds of rats and mice. 

 In addition, it takes insects, particularly 

 grasshoppers when these are abundant. 



In feeding, these hawks sometimes 

 watch from cliffs or open perches in trees 

 until suitable prey appears, or again fly 

 lightly and gracefully along, traveling 

 rather swiftly as they hunt. They have 

 been known to harry marsh hawks and 

 make these birds drop their prey. The 

 falcon seizes its booty in the air as it falls. 



About their nesting cliffs these falcons 

 are quite noisy, uttering shrill screams and 

 cackling calls when disturbed. At other 

 seasons they are mainly silent. 



The prairie falcon nests from southern 

 British Columbia to Baja California and 

 southern Mexico, extending east to the 

 eastern border of the Great Plains. It is 

 casual in occurrence in Manitoba, Minne- 

 sota, and Illinois. 



A related species is found in the South- 

 west, the aplomado falcon {Falco fusco- 

 coerulescens scptcntrionalis) . 



(Polyborus cheriway auduboni) 



Although related to the falcons, this 

 peculiar species, often called "Mexican 

 eagle," has many of the habits and man- 

 nerisms of vultures. It is found in prairie 

 regions where there are open groves, pre- 

 ferring open country to heavily forested 

 sections. Its flight is straight and rapid, 

 and it sometimes circles high in the air, 

 especially on days of oppressive heat. 



In Florida these birds frequently nest 

 in cabbage palmettos ; in Texas they oc- 

 cupy mesquites and other trees, and in 

 Arizona giant cacti are sometimes selected. 

 The nests are bulky masses of twigs, 

 weeds, coarse grass, leaves, and Spanish 

 moss, usually piled together in an untidy 

 manner. The eggs number two or three, 

 the ground color being creamy white when 

 it is visible. Most eggs have the entire 

 surface obscured by a wash of cinnamon 

 rufous and blotches of reddish brown. 



This bird eats lizards, snakes, frogs, and 

 small turtles, and also takes small mam- 

 mals. It is fond of rabbits, cotton rats and 

 other mice, and grasshoppers and other 

 large insects. Crabs and crayfish, too, are 

 on its bill of fare. 



The caracara is also partial to carrion of 

 all kinds, and frequently comes to car- 

 casses on which vultures are feeding. The 

 caracaras make the larger birds stand 

 aside, as they are strong and aggressive, 

 striking with both bill and feet. On the 

 coast of Texas caracaras have been seen 

 in pursuit of brown pelicans to make them 

 disgorge fish that they had swallowed. 



Caracaras are active on the ground, their 

 long legs and relatively short claws en- 

 abling them to walk and run with ease. 

 Their voices are peculiar rattling, creak- 

 ing, screaming calls, in uttering which the 

 birds frequently throw the head backward 

 until it touches the back. 



On Guadalupe Island, Mexico, off the 

 western coast of Baja California, there 

 was formerly found the Guadalupe cara- 

 cara, Polyborus lutosits. The last of this 

 species was recorded about 1905. 



Audubon's caracara nests from north- 

 ern Baja California, southwestern Ari- 

 zona, central and southern Florida, and 

 Cuba south through Mexico and Central 

 America. It has been recorded acciden- 

 tally in Ontario. An allied race occurs in 

 northern South America. 



