Peregrine Falcon Bird – Birds of Prey – 8/12/2010

The Peregrine Falcon was photographed at the Wisconsin State Fair from the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon is crow size with slaty-back, light chest barred and spotted below. It has noted heavy black sideburns, pointed wings and a narrow barred tail. It has a range nearly worldwide. It has a habitat of open country, cliffs, and sometimes cities. It feeds on mostly birds, and is a reason birds scatter when it is around. It is one of the world’s fastest birds and is noted with power-diving from great heights to strike prey. It is regarded by falconers as one of the noblest and spectacular of all birds of prey. It is an endangered species.

 

 

Merlin Bird – Birds of Prey – 9/26/2014

The female Merlin was photographed at Humboldt Park in Bayview, Wisconsin

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Merlin

The female Merlin is a small compact falcon, slightly larger than a Jay, with dusky brown above, a bold streaked breast, and a broad black-banded tail. It has a range of the Northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere and summers mainly in Canada and Alaska. It has a habitat of open conifer woodlands, prairie groves, and in migration foothills, marshes, and open country. It feeds on mostly small birds, large insects, rodents, bats and reptiles. It is a fast flying bird swooping down on birds in the air and the ground.

 

American Kestrel Falcon Bird – Birds of Prey – 1/23/2015

The female American Kestrel was photographed near the Milwaukee, Wisconsin General Mitchell International Airport

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the American Kestrel

Select this link to see info on the American Kestrel

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon, the size of a Jay, with a rufous back and tail, and a black and white face with a double mustache. It has dark brown barring on the back, long pointed wings, and a long tail. It has a range of most of North and South America. It has a range of open country, farmland, cities, wood edges, dead trees, and wires. The diet is mostly large insects, and some small mammals, rodents, birds, and reptiles. It is commonly seen perched on roadside wires.

 

Prairie Falcon Bird – Birds of Prey – 10/2/2013

This Prairie Falcon was photographed in Greeley, Colorado at an electrical power substation.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Prairie Falcon

The Prairie Falcon is a sandy brownish bird with black wing tips, a white eyebrow stripe, and black sideburns. It has a range from southwest Canada and western United States to south Mexico. It has a habitat in open hills, plains, prairies, and deserts. Its diet is mostly small birds and mammals. It often hunts by flying fast and low over ground taking prey by surprise, as was this particular case.