{"id":6560,"date":"2012-11-11T16:44:07","date_gmt":"2012-11-11T23:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=6560"},"modified":"2025-02-22T10:52:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T16:52:33","slug":"prairie-falcon-with-a-northern-shoveler-as-prey-graphic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/11\/11\/prairie-falcon-with-a-northern-shoveler-as-prey-graphic\/","title":{"rendered":"Prairie Falcon with a Northern Shoveler as prey (Graphic)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this morning I spotted a Prairie Falcon perched on a rock while on the Antelope Island<\/span><\/a> causeway.<\/p>\n

After pointing out the falcon, and before the vehicle stopped, the falcon took off over the water and attacked a Northern Shoveler while I watched.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Prairie Falcon flying over the Great Salt Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

The duck was floundering in the water and the Prairie Falcon flew over and past it when I took this image.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Prairie Falcon fly by<\/span><\/p>\n

The Prairie Falcon made several passes up and down the shoreline, landing, then taking off again. The wind-blown waves pushed the dying Northern Shoveler closer and closer to the shore.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon adult and prey<\/span><\/p>\n

When the duck reached the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake the falcon showed a bit of hesitation about going over to it. After a bit, the bird flew over to the shoveler which was still part way in the hypersaline water.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon tearing into the neck of the Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n

The Prairie Falcon tore into the neck of the Northern Shoveler at this point while the waves rocked the duck and the falcon gently back and forth on the shoreline.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon adult with dead Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the falcon gripped the duck with its talons. I wasn’t sure if it was going to fly away with its prey or just bring it on to the shore.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon with grip on dead Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n

The Prairie Falcon seemed to struggle a bit with the weight of the Shoveler which can weigh up to 1.3 pounds (375 grams).<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon with prey on the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

The falcon used its wings and its free foot to move the duck.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon adult lifting prey over rocks<\/span><\/p>\n

It seemed determined to move it away from the water.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon struggling to lift prey over rocks on shoreline<\/span><\/p>\n

I really liked this pose and the great eye contact the Prairie Falcon was giving me.\u00a0 The falcon struggled to lift the heavy shoveler over the rocks.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon lifting Northern Shoveler over rocks on the shoreline<\/span><\/p>\n

The falcon continued to drag the duck to drier ground.<\/p>\n

\"WatchfulWatchful Prairie Falcon with a Northern Shoveler on the shore<\/span><\/p>\n

It finally made it! The small waves were not reaching this section of the shoreline. I like how this shows the yellow feet, the dark tips of the talons and the yellow cere of this adult Prairie Falcon.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon feasting on a Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n

The falcon wasted no time and tore into the breast of the Northern Shoveler and feathers were flying as it did. I wish that the bird had been closer but if it had been it might not have stuck around to eat its prey in front of me. The light began to fade as another cloud came in from the west, it was snowing again to the south and west.<\/p>\n

\"PrairiePrairie Falcon with a pile of feathers from the Northern Shoveler<\/span><\/p>\n

The falcon really chowed down on the Shoveler as I watched and photographed. When I left because the light was leaving the handsome falcon was still there and eating the duck.<\/p>\n

I have to tell you it feels totally awesome that because of my keen eyesight I was able to watch a Prairie Falcon attack, bring in, and eat the prey it caught naturally. These birds are simply amazing.<\/p>\n

All of these images were taken with my Nikon D300 and Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC lens resting on my noodle. The Prairie Falcon I found wasn’t baited, it supplied its own food<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Life is good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Prairie Falcon photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

(I took a boat load of images of this falcon, these were just a few that I liked)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this morning I spotted a Prairie Falcon perched on a rock while on the Antelope Island Causeway, before we could get stopped and into position to photograph the falcon it took off over the water and attacked a Northern Shoveler.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,1022,1095,26],"tags":[4004,970,2663,4286,4278,4078,4279,4620,4005,5993,5178,11483,1137,4277,4106,153,4891,4188,975],"class_list":["post-6560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-prairie-falcons","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-eating","tag-falco-mexicanus","tag-falcon","tag-falcons","tag-fall","tag-great-salt-lake","tag-hypersaline-lake","tag-lake","tag-lake-shore","tag-northern-shoveler","tag-prairie-falcons","tag-prey","tag-raptors","tag-shore","tag-shoreline","tag-spatula-clypeata"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prairie-falcon-prey-mia-mcpherson-8535.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-1HO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14926,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/05\/10\/a-first-year-prairie-falcon\/","url_meta":{"origin":6560,"position":0},"title":"First year Prairie Falcon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In the fall of 2011 I enjoyed being able to photograph this first year Prairie Falcon several times close to the Great Salt Lake in Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Early morning Prairie Falcon, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9910.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9910.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-9910.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43364,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/06\/immature-prairie-falcon-at-sunrise-next-to-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":6560,"position":1},"title":"Immature Prairie Falcon At Sunrise Next To The Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The bird that started my day was an immature Prairie Falcon at sunrise next to the Great Salt Lake and as the sun started to rise the falcon seemed to glow.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prairie Falcon at sunrise next to the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/prairie-falcon-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-4550.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/prairie-falcon-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-4550.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/prairie-falcon-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-4550.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/prairie-falcon-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-4550.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6730,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/12\/08\/adult-prairie-falcon-with-a-full-crop\/","url_meta":{"origin":6560,"position":2},"title":"Adult Prairie Falcon With A Full Crop","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I wish I had been in a better position with a better angle of light but due to vegetation growing along the road there were just a few clear areas between the Rabbitbrush to get an unobstructed view of the Prairie Falcon but I do like how the photo shows\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Prairie Falcon perched on a rock near the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park in Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/prairie-falcon-adult-mia-mcpherson-3573.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/prairie-falcon-adult-mia-mcpherson-3573.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/prairie-falcon-adult-mia-mcpherson-3573.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6160,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/09\/22\/low-light-juvenile-prairie-falcon\/","url_meta":{"origin":6560,"position":3},"title":"Low Light Juvenile Prairie Falcon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"One foggy morning last December I spotted this juvenile Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) perched on a frost-covered rock on the causeway to Antelope Island SP with the Great Salt Lake in the background.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prairie Falcon on a cold Utah morning next to the causeway, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7323.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7323.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/prairie-falcon-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-7323.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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I'll be grinning (and dancing) about this for quite awhile!","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Prairie Falcon getting ready for lift off, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prairie-falcon-1st-year-mia-mcpherson-9922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prairie-falcon-1st-year-mia-mcpherson-9922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prairie-falcon-1st-year-mia-mcpherson-9922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/prairie-falcon-1st-year-mia-mcpherson-9922.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43065,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/11\/11\/looking-for-peregrine-falcons-on-the-shore-of-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":6560,"position":5},"title":"Looking For Peregrine Falcons On The Shore Of The Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This time of the year I start looking for Peregrine Falcons to show up near the shoreline of the Great Salt Lake because of the high numbers of ducks that are usually there.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Peregrine Falcon near the shore of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-rocks-mia-mcpherson-8538.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-rocks-mia-mcpherson-8538.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-rocks-mia-mcpherson-8538.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/peregrine-falcon-rocks-mia-mcpherson-8538.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6560"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6560\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}