Falcons Found in Montana

Five falcon species inhabit Montana: Gyrfalcon( Falco rusticolus); Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus);  Merlin (Falco columbarius); and the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius).

The Gyrfalcon, our largest species, is only a winter resident of Montana. We have no known nesting Gyrfalcons. Gyrfalcons are about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk. The Gyrfalcon migrates down from Canada in the winter and feeds on birds and rodents