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Class Aves
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae

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Falco columbarius—Merlin // Falco femoralis—Aplomado Falcon // Falco mexicanus—Prairie Falcon // Falco peregrinus—Peregrine Falcon // Falco rusticolus—Gyrfalcon // Falco sparverius—American Kestrel

Falco sp.—FalconsPleistocene distribution of regional Falco sp.

Most falcons are widespread today, or at least historically, and are of little value for ecological or climatic reconstructions. However, see the Gyrfalcon account.

As with most hawks, there is sexual dimorphism in size, with the female being the larger.

Sites.

?Late Irvingtonian/Rancholabrean: Emery Borrow Pit (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Diamond Valley (Springer et al. 2009).

Late Wisconsin: Camel Room (Harris 1993c).

Literature. Harris 1993c; Jefferson 1991a; Springer et al. 2009.

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Falco columbarius Linnaeus 1758—MerlinPleistocene distribution of regional Falco columbarius

Merlins are relatively small falcons (about the size of a pigeon) and apparently in our region only during migration. During migration, however, it can appear anywhere in the area (Ligon 1961).

Sites.

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009: cf.).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Late Wisconsin: Blackwater Draw (Morgan and Lucas 2005).

Literature. Guthrie 2009; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Morgan and Lucas 2005; Stock and Harris 1992.

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Falco femoralis Temminck 1822—Aplomado FalconPleistocene distribution of regional Falco femoralis

Aplomado Falcons are widespread in South and Central America and historically occurred in the Southwest. They are predominantly grassland creatures.

Sites.

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rampart Cave (Miller 1960).

Literature. Miller 1960.

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Falco mexicanus Schlege 1850—Prairie FalconPleistocene distribution of regional Falco mexicanus

Today, Prairie Falcons occur throughout our region.

Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988).

Late Wisconsin: Charlies Parlor (Harris 1989); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Wetmore 1932); Howell's Ridge Cave (Howard 1962); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Harris 1989, 2003; Howard 1962, 1971; Jefferson 1991a; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Stock and Harris 1992; Wetmore 1932.

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Falco peregrinus Tunstall 1771—Peregrine FalconPleistocene distribution of regional Falco peregrinus

At least during migration, the Peregrine Falcon is expectable anywhere within the region. Ligon (1961) noted streams and large bodies of water as preferred habitat since much of their prey consists of waterfowl and shore birds.

Sites.

Early/Early-Mid Wisconsin: Rm Vanishing Floor (Harris 1993c: ?).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris (1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998).

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933).

Late Wisconsin: Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006: cf.).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Howell's Ridge Cave (Harris 1993c).

Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998; Harris 1993c; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Ligon 1961; Stock and Harris 1992.

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Falco rusticolus Linnaeus 1758—GyrfalconPleistocene distribution of regional Falco rusticolus.

Synonyms. Falco swarthi L. Miller 1927.

Falco swarthi was described from McKittrick, California, in 1927 and reported from Dark Canyon Cave in 1971 by Howard.

Howard (1971) gave measurements of a partial femur: length, 82.7 mm; breadth proximal end, estimated at 16.0 mm; breadth distal end from uppermost flare of fibular condyle to raised area above internal condyle, 16.3 mm. The proximal tarsometatarsus breadth measured 12.0 mm at the level of the foramina.

Emslie (1985b) compared the holotype with specimens of Gyrfalcon and concluded that F. swarthi differed in no significant way from F. rusticolus.

Unlike the other falcons, the Gyrfalcon occurred far outside of its present range during the Pleistocene. Primarily an arctic form, it normally occurs only casually in winter to as far south as northern California, Wyoming, and Oklahoma (AOU 1983). Thus occurrence at Dark Canyon Cave appears to indicate suitable conditions far south of those today.

Sites.

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971).

Literature. Emslie 1985b; Howard 1971; Jefferson 1991a.

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Falco sparverius Linnaeus 1758—American KestrelPleistocene distribution of regional Falco sparverius

This is a very small falcon feeding especially on arthropods. It is common throughout our region today. It is relatively common in the Pleistocene deposits, often being represented by multiple specimens.

American Kestrel

Fig. 1. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). Photo by Greg Hume.

Sites.

Sangamon: San Pedro Lumber Co. (Jefferson 1991a).

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Mid Wisconsin: McKittrick (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); U-Bar Cave (Harris 1987: cf. gen. et sp.).

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Dark Canyon Cave (Howard 1971); Hampton Court (Harris 1993c); Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992); Sandblast Cave (Emslie 1988); San Miguel Island (Guthrie 1998).

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933).

Mid/Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Jimenez Cave (Messing 1986); Sierra Diablo Cave (UTEP).

Late Wisconsin: Maricopa (Jefferson 1991a); Pendejo Cave (UTEP); Sandia Cave (Brasso and Emslie 2006); Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984); U-Bar Cave 14-15 ka (Harris 1989).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Burnet Cave (Schultz and Howard 1935); Conkling Cavern (Howard and Miller 1933); Kokoweef Cave (Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991); Pendejo Cave (Harris 2003); Skylight Cave (Emslie 1988).


Literature. Brasso and Emslie 2006; Emslie 1988; Guthrie 1998, 2009; Harris 1987, 1989, 1993c, 2003; Howard 1971; Howard and Miller 1933; Jefferson 1991a; Messing 1986; Rea and Hargrave 1984; Reynolds, Reynolds, et al. 1991; Schultz and Howard 1935; Stock and Harris 1992.

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Last Update: 22 Jun 2014