prairie falcon

American  

noun

1. a North American falcon, Falco mexicanus, grayish-brown above and white barred with brown below.

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Etymology

Origin of prairie falcon

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

He returned a few days later in his Ford F-150 pickup with a lone, white-and-gray mottled gyr prairie falcon, an adolescent named Tilda.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2022

A prairie falcon - the same species whose hunt inspired him during childhood - which was well to the east of its normal range.

From Washington Times • Jul. 4, 2020

But in court on 30 January, there was mustachioed Falcone with mountains of paper, eyes like a prairie falcon and intellectual talons to match.

From The Guardian • Feb. 17, 2019

Up above, I spotted a golden eagle soaring on the drafts, and in the distance, I caught a glimpse of a prairie falcon diving at some doomed ground-dwelling creature.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2017

The prairie falcon and the sharp- shinned hawk were there, too.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George