Subject: prarie vs. peregrine
Date: Dec 14 10:32:22 1997
From: "M. Donahue" - mgd at u.washington.edu


I saw a falcon the other day in Skagit county, that was either a prarie or
an immature tundrius peregrine. It didn't look right for either
species, to me. After consulting several sources once I
got home, I'm fairly confident that it was a peregrine.

The information I have on this I.D. issue is contraditory and not very
clear; I would like to solicit comments from tweeters on how to separate
a prarie from an immature tundrius peregrine. (Besides the dark
"wingpits.") I'm intentially not posting a description of this bird,
because I would prefer comments to this I.D. question to NOT be in
terms of my description or biased by it.

I was able to photograph the bird. Photos aren't back yet, but I'd be
willing to make them available for posting if anyone would like to
post them.

I look forward to your comments!

Mike Donahue