Are falcons a fan of hot and humid weather? As it stands, there are 5 species you can find in the sweltering subtropical climate of Louisiana – some rare and some common!
Falcons are a fascinating bird of prey species for their incredible speed and surprising adaptability. While they’re often comfortable in mountain ranges and coastlines, you can sometimes find them in urban locations.
Louisiana’s dense forests are matched only by its vibrant music culture and iconic festivals. If you’re one of many bird enthusiasts thinking of visiting this fascinating state, I’ll help you spot up to 5 falcon species.
You’ll learn how to spot them by their appearance, hunting habits, and more. Without further ado!
Peregrine Falcon
- Species Name: Falco peregrinus
- Weight: 330 grams to 1,500 grams
- Length: 34 cm to 58 cm
- Wingspan: 29 cm to 47 cm
What birder’s list would be complete without the most iconic species? This bird has the distinction of being at the top of the fastest animals of all time list, able to hit speeds of over 200 miles per hour!
Appearance
You won’t have a hard time spotting the peregrine falcon with their dark blue-black or gray-black coloration. This bold look is beautifully contrasted by their barred white stomachs and vivid yellow legs.
Their eyes are yellow-rimmed with a similarly yellow beak. When they spread their wings, you can see how extensive their feather barring really is.
As is common with falcons, females are significantly larger and bulkier than males. In fact, their size difference is so big, you might not even need a side-by-side comparison to tell!
Range
Not only are these widespread raptors common in Louisiana, they’re easily found almost everywhere in the world! Peregrine’s falcon adaptability makes them a great choice for beginner birders who need flexibility with their birdwatching spots.
Falcons are generally fond of wide, open areas, so keep an eye out in the southern portion of the state. They’re most common during the winter months but may show up during early spring.
Peregrine falcons are also comfortable in urban environments, so you may not even need a nature walk to spot them! If you want a starting point where you can easily spot these birds, check out the stunning Atchafalaya Basin.
If you like to multitask, you’ll also spot some unique varieties of ducks!
Diet
This fierce bird regularly hunts other bird species as their primary food source, usually targeting pigeons, ducks, and ptarmigans. Their flight capabilities mean they don’t have to slash with their talons, but rather, kill on impact.
When they’re not able to find their usual food supply, they’ll switch to bats, rodents, and occasionally fish.
Birdsong
These birds have a sharp and assertive call, letting out hwuaaah-hwuaaah patterns like an alarm going off.
Fun Fact
A common pattern with falcons is to get a little thrifty with other species’ nests. Peregrine falcons are adaptable birds who will reuse old nesting sites in breathtaking locations like high ledges and cliff edges.
American Kestrel
- Species Name: Falco Sparverius
- Weight: 80 grams to 165 grams
- Length: 22 cm to 31 cm
- Wingspan: 51 to 61 cm
Such a culturally rich state will no doubt house another iconic bird species. The American Kestrel is a must-see common falcon that’s widespread across North America.
Appearance
The male American Kestrel never fails to stun onlookers with his gray-blue head, bluish wings, and cinnamon-brown body. If you have a pair of binoculars on you, you’ll be able to spot their streaked black and white face.
The female falcon looks similar to the male but with a larger body size and less blue. She’s also quite stunning with her heavily flecked chest and wings.
Range
Depending on where you are in Louisiana, you may have to time your birdwatching sessions. The American Kestrel shows up in the northern portion of the state year-round but only crops up in the south during winter.
American Kestrels are quite comfortable in a variety of habitats such as meadows, grasslands, parks, and deserts. They’re not fond of dense forests, so you’ll have a higher chance of spotting them in more spacious areas (including near and around cities).
If you enjoy backyard birding and have some space to spare, consider buying boxes for nesting. American Kestrels don’t build their own nests and are likely to take roost if you place your nest box somewhere spacious.
Expect a clutch size of four to five eggs. You may even get lucky to witness this falcon’s exceptional hunting abilities, so keep your binoculars on you.
Diet
American Kestrels are on the smaller side, so they’re able to live easily on the diets of smaller creatures. They’re avid hunters of insects like butterflies, moths, crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Does that mean they don’t hunt mammals? Actually, they’re quick to snatch up any mice, squirrels, or bats that come their way.
They’ll even eat the occasional lizard or snake. Is it any wonder why they’re found across the country with such a diverse supply of prey?
Birdsong
The American Kestrel has two common vocalizations that resemble numerous falcons – a shrill call and a rapid-fire kee-kee-kee pattern.
Fun Fact
Do you like to go on road trips? You’ll have a higher chance of spotting these colorful falcons – they often perch on fence posts or telephone wires next to highways.
Merlin
- Species Name: Falco columbarius
- Weight: 125 grams to 300 grams
- Length: 24 cm to 33 cm
- Wingspan: 58 cm to 66 cm
This gorgeous bird may be a little tricky to spot due to its complex plumage, but I’ll help you out. They’re a beautiful sight that will make you appreciate the majesty of falcons all over again.
Appearance
Like American Kestrels, merlins are quite adaptable and their plumage reflects this. They often come in different colors depending on their environment but have a similar ‘base’ look.
These falcons are sleek, small, and have very large eyes. They also have tiny yellow beaks and a patchy stomach that usually has brown spots.
Below are a few plumage differences – or ‘morphs’ – you may find:
- Coastal Forest Merlin – a sleek, dark gray-blue with a bright white stomach covered in streaks
- Black Merlin – also a dark gray-blue with a bright white stomach covered in streaks
- Prairie Merlin – a deep, dusty brown with a bright stomach covered in flecks
- Pacific Northwest Merlin – a dark blue (almost black) with a white stomach
Range
Another tricky aspect of spotting these compact birds is their adaptability to many environments. They’re just as comfortable in forests as they are in parks and meadows – their preference will depend on their morph!
To narrow down your options, keep in mind they show up in the north of Louisiana during migration. However, they only show up in the south once winter hits.
If you want to go on a family trip and get a little extra wildlife education, consider visiting the Barataria Preserve. It’s open year-round and has plenty of open spaces for merlins to feel comfortable in.
Diet
These fierce falcons generally prefer to hunt other bird species, particularly waterfowls, songbirds, and gamefowl. However, they’re flexible enough to switch their variety of foods to small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians as needed.
Birdsong
Good news! Their birdcall is extremely memorable and makes them a little easier to spot – expect to hear a laugh-like kee-kee-kee or kaw-kaw-kaaaw.
Fun Fact
While these falcons are usually solitary birds, they’ll sometimes be found in small flocks of birds during the winter.
Prairie Falcon
- Species Name: Falco peregrinus
- Weight: 330 grams to 1,500 grams
- Length: 34 cm to 58 cm
- Wingspan: 29 cm to 47 cm
With Louisiana coated in dense forests with a high amount of rainfall, it’s easy to forget the state has some prairies to its name. The prairie falcon is an accidental species in Louisiana and occasionally swings over for a visit!
Appearance
The prairie falcon has a dusty coloration of gray-brown with a white-speckled stomach. They have distinctive ‘mustache’ markings trailing down from their beak.
Another distinctive feature are their heavily feathered legs that almost look like baggy pants. Males and females look similar plumage-wise, but females are significantly larger.
Range
The prairie falcon lives up to its name by preferring flat, warm areas such as meadows, deserts, and plains. They generally don’t prefer dense forests, but may still hang around tall trees for a particularly good view.
They show up very rarely in Louisiana, but you may get lucky and spot one!
Diet
These chunky birds generally prefer to hunt small mammals, though they’ll sometimes go after other bird species. They’re keen on eating ground squirrels, mice, doves, pigeons, and quail.
Birdsong
These majestic birds have a sharp and alarming call that almost sounds like cackling. If you keep a sharp ear out, you may hear an elusive keek-keek-keek or kik-kik-kik.
Fun Fact
While some falcon species are ‘live and let live’, prairie falcons go for the aggressive route. They’re known to swiftly attack falcons or hawks that enter their territory, even very large species like the golden eagle.
Crested Caracara
- Species Name: Caracara cheriway
- Weight: 952 grams to 1,348 grams
- Length: 50 cm to 65 cm
- Wingspan: 120 cm to 132 cm
This fascinating falcon is quite the encounter for bird watchers of all shapes and sizes! Their strange appearance and unique hunting style used to baffle biologists.
Appearance
The crested caracara almost looks like a hybrid between an eagle and a vulture, but they are still a species of falcons! They’re on the larger side with a chocolate brown body, white throat, and brown ‘cap’.
The features that stand out the most are their broad, orange faces and blue-gray beak tips. Males and females are very similar in both plumage and size – even experienced birders can’t always tell them apart.
Range
Planning on visiting the south of Louisiana? The crested caracara make their home there year-round and aren’t known to migrate.
These birds, like most falcons, enjoy open spaces where they can rush prey or keep an eye out for predators. Agricultural fields, meadows, and plains are their ideal range of habitats — you’ll often see them on branches of trees or fence posts surveying their territory.
Diet
The crested caracara certainly isn’t shaking off its vulture rumors, what with their tendency to scavenge alongside hunting. Although they have exceptional hunting skills and will hunt fish and small mammals, they’ll also shoo actual vultures from dead animals.
Their hunting activities often display a surprising amount of speed on the ground, not just the air.
Birdsong
It’s not just their distinctive appearance that shakes up expectations. The crested caracara doesn’t have a call so much as a very unusual sound – they let out long, rattling trills.
Fun Fact
Just how much does the crested caracara like harassing vultures? They’ll even stress the birds out so much they throw up their food, just so they can eat it.
Louisiana Has More Than Enough Falcon Species To Satisfy Outdoor Birders
Whether you’re visiting Louisiana for the nightlife or want a break from your usual scenery, Louisiana is a great pick for birdwatching. Several falcon species are easy to find here, but you still have accidental species to shake things up.
Gorgeous locations to start spotting falcons are the well-tended Barataria Preserves and the Atchafalaya Basin. However, some falcons — like the crested caracara and the American Kestrel — are easy to spot on a classic road trip.
What else can you discover in Louisiana? Our guide on birds in Louisiana will help you spot local wildlife like warblers, finches, hummingbirds, and more.