Subject: Re: prarie vs. peregrine
Date: Dec 14 11:58:46 1997
From: Don Baccus - dhogaza at pacifier.com


At 10:32 AM 12/14/97 -0800, you wrote:
>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 can only speak from my own experience...

Immature prairie falcons are pale sandy-brown/grey on the back, with a
white "eye brow".

Even those immature peregrines which are relatively pale and without a
heavy "mustache" are much browner than any prairie I've seen. I've
seen some fairly light "eye brow" marks on peregrines, but they're always
a palish tan, never white (again, in my experience). And some pretty
dainty mustaches, but always on a brownish head.

For a classic headshot of a prairie, check out:

http://donb.photo.net/photo_cd/d/b82.html

You'll see the white "eye-brow" and dainty "mustache". You'll note the
breast is streaked with some buffiness to it, but the overall impression
is "whitish".


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <dhogaza at pacifier.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net