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Prairie Falcon?

Discussion

5 replies
Posted by Mike Dunn on March 14, 2011 at 10:28 PM
Prairie Falcon?
I found this bird on the prairie of colorado this weekend. I am pretty sure this is a prairie falcon. If it is it almost seemed to me it was building a nest on the ground. Are they known to do this if there are not any rocky areas to build?
Thank you for any help.
Posted by Mike Dunn on March 14, 2011 at 10:35 PM
playing with twigs
Posted by Mike Dunn on March 14, 2011 at 11:58 PM
poor flight shot
Posted by Nate Chappell on March 15, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Steve's got it right I think. Ferruginous Hawk.
Posted by John Cubit on March 15, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Mike---On the DesertUSA site, Damian Fagan reports ground-nesting for Ferruginous hawks--something new to me.
http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/feb/papr/hawk.html

Sounds like you found a dynamite site for follow-up photos.
---John
Posted by Jim DeWitt on March 16, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Ferruginous Hawks are also easily disturbed and will abandon nests, eggs and nestlings. Be cautious.