The prairie falcon is a medium-sized falcon native to western North America. Known for its speed and agility in flight, the prairie falcon is able to reach very high speeds when diving after prey. But just how fast can prairie falcons fly in level flight? In this article, we’ll take a look at prairie falcon flight speeds and the factors that allow this falcon to fly so swiftly.
Typical Flight Speeds
Prairie falcons are fast fliers capable of reaching speeds over 100 mph (160 km/h) when diving. However, in straight, level flight their speeds are somewhat slower. Some key flight speeds for prairie falcons include:
- Cruising Speed: 20-35 mph (32-56 km/h)
- Maximum Level Flight Speed: Around 60 mph (97 km/h)
- Diving Speed: Up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
So while these falcons are capable of hitting speeds over 100 mph when stooping (diving), their typical cruising speed is closer to 20-35 mph. This allows them to conserve energy efficiently during long flights. Only when rapidly diving after prey do prairie falcons reach their top air speeds.
Factors Allowing High Speeds
Several key factors allow prairie falcons to reach fast flight speeds:
Aerodynamic Body Shape
Prairie falcons have a slim, tapered shape with long, pointed wings. This aerodynamic body shape minimizes drag and allows them to fly swiftly through the air. Their wings are long and narrow allowing for efficient lift production at high speeds.
Powerful Flight Muscles
The pectoral muscles that power the wings during flight are very large and strong in prairie falcons. The size and strength of these muscles enables prairie falcons to flap their wings at high frequency to achieve rapid flight.
Lightweight Structure
Weighing 1.1-1.5 lbs (500-680 grams), prairie falcons have a lightweight skeleton and muscles. Their lightweight build allows them to fly quickly with less effort. Heavier birds must work harder to reach high air speeds.
Streamlined Feathers
The feathers of prairie falcons are smooth and arranged to optimize aerodynamics. The streamlined feather structure reduces turbulence and drag over the wings, tail and body. This allows air to flow smoothly over the falcon in flight.
Speeds Relative to Prey
One key factor to the flight speed of prairie falcons relates to chasing down prey, primarily small birds and rodents. In flight, prairie falcons can reach speeds 2-3 times faster than many of the small bird species they prey on. This allows them to rapidly run down fleeing prey. Some key comparisons:
- Prairie falcons cruising at 35 mph vs. mourning doves at 15 mph
- Prairie falcons diving at 100 mph vs. horned larks at 40 mph
So while prairie falcons may not be the fastest flying bird in absolute terms, their flight abilities are very impressive relative to their prey species. This grants them strong hunting capabilities.
Flight Speeds of Other Falcon Species
To provide some additional context, it’s useful to compare the flight speeds of prairie falcons to other falcon species:
Falcon Species | Maximum Level Flight Speed |
---|---|
Gyrfalcon | 100 mph |
Peregrine falcon | 90 mph |
Prairie falcon | 60 mph |
Merlin | 55 mph |
American kestrel | 40 mph |
This shows that the prairie falcon is certainly among the faster falcons, though a few species like the gyrfalcon and peregrine are capable of higher top air speeds in level flight. However, the prairie falcon is still considered a very speedy flier compared to most other birds.
Diving Speeds and Stooping
While the maximum level flight speed of prairie falcons is around 60 mph, their diving or stooping speed is much faster. In a steep dive with wings tucked, prairie falcons can reach speeds over 100 mph. This fast diving ability enables them to strike prey with great force.
Among North American falcons, the prairie falcon has one of the fastest diving speeds, though the peregrine falcon exceeds it reaching stoop speeds over 200 mph! So prairie falcons are certainly swift divers, though some other falcon species exceed them in diving velocity. Their stooping ability still allows them to catch fast fleeing prey like ducks and pheasants.
Speeds Needed Hunting Different Prey
The flight speed a prairie falcon needs depends significantly on the type of prey being hunted:
Small Birds
When hunting small bird species like larks and finches, prairie falcons can rely on surprise attacks in level flight at 50-60 mph. This allows them to rapidly close distance on prey before the target can react and evade.
Pheasants, Grouse and Doves
Pursuing pheasants, doves and grouse requires diving speeds of 80-100 mph. At these velocities, prairie falcons can catch up to and strike fast flying game birds before they can escape into cover.
Waterfowl
The fastest flight speeds are needed when prairie falcons go after ducks and other waterfowl. Stooping at over 100 mph allows prairie falcons to catch ducks as they rapidly accelerate and take flight from the water’s surface.
Rodents and Rabbits
Hunting small mammals like rabbits, prairie dogs and ground squirrels requires lower speed surprise attacks. Level flight around 40 mph allows prairie falcons to swiftly descend and snatch prey from the ground before it can bolt for the safety of a burrow.
So prairie falcons adjust their speed based on the acceleration and evasion abilities of different prey types. This flexibility helps make them effective hunters across a range of habitats.
Conclusion
In summary, prairie falcons are fast fliers capable of reaching moderate speeds in level flight and very rapid velocities when diving. Key takeaways on prairie falcon flight speeds include:
- Cruising Speed: 20-35 mph
- Maximum Level Flight Speed: Around 60 mph
- Diving Speeds: Up to 100+ mph
- Lightweight build and aerodynamic shape enable swift flight
- Speeds are 2-3X faster than typical prey species
- Prairie falcons adjust speed based on prey target
- Among the fastest flying North American falcon species
So while they may not be the absolute speed champions among falcons, prairie falcons possess excellent flight capabilities that serve their role as aerial predators hunting on the open plains and scrublands of western North America. Their bursts of fast flight allow them to catch a range of prey, cementing the prairie falcon as one of the most aerial and high-performance falcons found across North America.