Falcons are some of the most thrilling birds to watch in Arkansas. With their sharp eyesight, incredible speed, and powerful hunting skills, these birds of prey are built for the chase. Whether they’re soaring high above open fields, darting through forests, or diving at breathtaking speeds, falcons are a stunning sight in the wild.
Arkansas is home to several falcon species, each with unique behaviors and habitats. The Peregrine Falcon, famous for being the fastest bird in the world, can be seen during migration or nesting on cliffs and tall buildings. The American Kestrel, the smallest falcon in North America, is often spotted perched on fence posts or hovering over fields in search of prey. The Merlin, a compact and fierce hunter, prefers open woodlands and grasslands, especially during migration.
Some of these falcons are year-round residents, while others pass through Arkansas during seasonal migrations. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in a variety of landscapes, from rural farmland to bustling cityscapes. Though their numbers have fluctuated due to habitat changes and environmental factors, conservation efforts have helped many falcon populations remain stable.
In this article, I’ll tell you all about the falcons of Arkansas, where to find them, and what makes each one special. Whether you’re a birdwatcher or just curious about these incredible raptors, there’s always something exciting to learn.
1. Peregrine Falcon
- Scientific name: Falco peregrinus
- Life span: 8-15 years
- Size: 14-19 inches (36-48 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-3.3 pounds (500-1500 grams)
- Wingspan: 3-4 feet (90-120 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Migratory and rare
- Migration pattern: Present in Arkansas from mid-September through early May.
The Peregrine Falcon boasts a nearly global distribution, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica. In North America, they are found from the Arctic tundra through temperate regions and into parts of Central and South America. These falcons are renowned for their incredible speed, especially during hunting dives known as stoops. Adults display a distinctive slate-gray to bluish-black back and wings, with pale underparts adorned with fine dark barring.
Their head features a striking black “helmet” and malar stripe, contrasting sharply with a white throat and cheeks. The eyes are dark, set within a yellow eye-ring, and the beak is hooked, adapted for their predatory lifestyle.
Juvenile Peregrines differ in appearance, exhibiting brownish plumage with streaked underparts and a more subdued facial pattern. This species’ adaptability allows it to thrive in diverse habitats, from coastal cliffs and river bluffs to urban skyscrapers, where they often nest and hunt.
Peregrine Falcons have fascinating nesting habits that reflect their adaptability and survival instincts. These birds typically seek out high, secluded locations such as cliff ledges, tall trees, and even man-made structures like bridges and skyscrapers to create their nests, known as “scrapes.”
Unlike many other birds of prey, Peregrines do not build elaborate nests; instead, they create a shallow depression in gravel or soil where they lay their eggs. The selection of these elevated locations provides a strategic advantage, keeping their young safe from predators. Courtship is an important part of their nesting behavior, involving impressive aerial displays, food exchanges, and calls between mates.
Once eggs are laid, the female incubates them while the male provides food. After hatching, both parents fiercely defend their chicks, ensuring they reach fledging age successfully. Their strong fidelity to nesting sites means that successful pairs return to the same locations year after year.
The diet of the Peregrine Falcon in Arkansas is largely centered around birds, making them an essential part of the state’s avian ecosystem. These falcons are supreme aerial hunters, using their unparalleled speed to catch prey in mid-air. Pigeons, doves, shorebirds, and small waterfowl make up a large portion of their diet.
However, they are highly opportunistic and will hunt whatever is available. Their hunting technique is dramatic—they spot prey from high above and dive at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour, striking with immense force. The impact alone is often enough to disable their target instantly.
Peregrines rely on clear flight paths to execute their signature hunting dives, which is why they thrive in areas with open landscapes, riverbanks, and urban environments where they can use tall buildings to their advantage.
Historically, the Peregrine Falcon population suffered a severe decline due to pesticide use, particularly DDT, which caused eggshell thinning and reproductive failures. By the 1970s, they had nearly disappeared from much of North America.
Conservation programs, including captive breeding and nest reintroduction efforts, played a major role in their comeback. Arkansas, with its bluffs and growing urban nesting sites, has seen a steady increase in Peregrine numbers. Today, while they are still considered rare in the state, their recovery is one of the greatest conservation success stories.
Ongoing monitoring and habitat protection remain key to ensuring their continued resurgence. Efforts to prevent habitat destruction, limit environmental pollutants, and raise public awareness have helped stabilize their population, making it more likely for future generations to witness these incredible falcons soaring through Arkansas skies.
2. American Kestrel
- Scientific name: Falco sparverius
- Life span: 5-10 years
- Size: 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
- Weight: 2.8-5.8 ounces (80-164 grams)
- Wingspan: 20-24 inches (51-61 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Breeding and common
- Migration pattern: Year-round resident; no significant departure from Arkansas.
The American Kestrel is the smallest and most widespread falcon in the Americas, ranging from Alaska and Canada through the United States and into South America. This species is easily recognizable by its vibrant plumage and distinctive markings. Males display a striking combination of slate-blue wings and a rusty-red back and tail, often tipped with a black band.
Their underparts are pale with variable spotting. Females, while similarly patterned, are more subdued, featuring rufous wings and back with black barring throughout. Both sexes have two vertical black facial stripes on a white face, giving them a masked appearance. Their eyes are dark, and the cere and legs are bright yellow.
American Kestrels favor open habitats such as meadows, grasslands, and agricultural fields, often seen perched on wires or hovering in place as they hunt. Their adaptability also leads them to inhabit urban and suburban areas, where they utilize buildings and other structures for nesting and hunting perches.
American Kestrels are cavity-nesters, meaning they seek out tree hollows, abandoned woodpecker nests, or artificial nest boxes for breeding. In Arkansas, they prefer open landscapes such as farmland, meadows, and prairies, where they have easy access to hunting grounds.
They readily adapt to human-provided nesting opportunities, and conservationists have installed kestrel boxes to compensate for the loss of natural cavities. Courtship among kestrels is a lively affair, with males performing aerial displays and bringing food to potential mates as a sign of their ability to provide.
Once a pair bonds, the female selects the nest site, and she incubates the eggs while the male hunts. After hatching, kestrel chicks grow quickly, developing the sharp hunting skills they need to become independent within just a few weeks.
The diet of the American Kestrel is as diverse as its habitat. Unlike larger falcons that focus mainly on birds, kestrels have a broader range of prey. They primarily hunt large insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, and moths, which make up a significant portion of their diet during warmer months.
They also prey on small mammals, including mice and voles, and occasionally catch lizards and snakes. Kestrels are unique among falcons because they often hover in place while hunting, using rapid wingbeats to maintain position before striking their prey with precision. This behavior is particularly useful in open fields, where they can scan for movement before making their move.
American Kestrels are still common in Arkansas, but their numbers have declined in parts of North America due to habitat loss and competition for nesting sites. The widespread removal of old trees and deadwood has reduced available cavities, making nest boxes an important conservation tool.
Pesticide use also threatens kestrels by reducing insect populations and contaminating their food sources. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining healthy grassland and farmland habitats, protecting natural nesting cavities, and continuing nest box programs
Educating landowners and farmers about the importance of kestrels in natural pest control has helped generate support for their conservation. Monitoring projects in Arkansas track kestrel populations and identify key areas for habitat protection.
3. Merlin
- Scientific name: Falco columbarius
- Life span: 5-10 years
- Size: 9-11 inches (23-28 cm)
- Weight: 5-7 ounces (140-198 grams)
- Wingspan: 20-26 inches (51-66 cm)
- Status: Least Concern
- State status: Migratory and rare
- Migration pattern: Observed during migration periods, primarily in spring and fall.
The Merlin is a small, robust falcon with a broad distribution across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, they breed in northern forests, including parts of Canada and the northern United States, and migrate southward during the winter months.
Merlins exhibit sexual dimorphism in plumage: males typically have a bluish-gray back and wings with a lightly streaked, pale underbelly, while females and juveniles present a more uniform brown coloration above with heavier streaking below. Both sexes possess a faint mustache mark and a banded tail, though these features are subtler compared to other falcon species. Their eyes are dark, and they have a yellow cere and legs.
Merlins are known for their agile flight and are often observed in open terrains such as grasslands, coastal areas, and edges of woodlands, where they pursue small birds in swift, direct flights.
Unlike many other raptors, they don’t construct their own nests but instead take over abandoned nests built by crows, hawks, and other large birds. These nests are usually positioned in coniferous or mixed forests, though Merlins are increasingly being observed in more open landscapes and urban areas.
Their nesting sites provide a strong defensive advantage, as they choose locations that are difficult for predators to access. Courtship among Merlins involves aerial chases and high-speed pursuits, showcasing their agility and strength. Once a nesting site is chosen, the female lays a clutch of three to five eggs and remains in the nest while the male hunts and provides food.
Their young develop quickly, gaining the strength and speed necessary for their fast-paced hunting style within a few weeks of hatching.
The diet of the Merlin consists primarily of small birds, making them one of the most efficient avian predators in Arkansas. They rely on their incredible speed and agility to chase down their prey in mid-air, often surprising flocks of sparrows, finches, or warblers. Unlike larger falcons that dive from great heights, Merlins engage in fast, direct pursuits, using short bursts of speed to outmanoeuvre their prey.
While birds make up the bulk of their diet, they will also consume large insects and, on occasion, small mammals. Merlins are bold hunters and have been known to chase birds much larger than themselves, relying on sheer determination and rapid wingbeats to overwhelm their targets. Their ability to adapt to different hunting strategies allows them to thrive in a variety of landscapes, from woodlands to coastal areas and even city parks.
Merlins have shown a steady increase in population over the last few decades, largely due to conservation efforts and the expansion of their range into new habitats. Historically, habitat loss and pesticide use affected their numbers, but they have proven resilient. In Arkansas, conservation programs aimed at preserving open woodlands and maintaining healthy bird populations indirectly benefit the Merlin.
Unlike some falcons, Merlins are not as reliant on cliffs or tall structures for nesting, which allows them to adapt to changing landscapes. Continued efforts to protect their foraging areas and reduce environmental toxins will ensure that these fierce little hunters remain a vital part of Arkansas’s ecosystems.
Where to find Falcons in Arkansas
If you’re looking for falcons in Arkansas, you’ll need patience, sharp eyes, and the right locations. Falcons are fast-moving predators, often seen soaring high above open spaces or perched on tall structures scanning for prey. The best way to find them is to visit areas with wide, open landscapes, cliffs, or even city buildings. Early mornings and late afternoons are ideal, as falcons tend to be more active during these times. Binoculars or a spotting scope can help you get a closer look at their incredible flight skills.
Here are four great places to find falcons in Arkansas:
- Buffalo National River – Peregrine Falcons nest on the high bluffs along the river, making this a prime spot to see them in action.
- Lake Dardanelle State Park – Open areas around the lake attract American Kestrels and occasional Merlins.
- Mount Magazine State Park – Arkansas’ highest peak offers great views of soaring raptors, including migrating falcons.
- Downtown Little Rock – Peregrine Falcons sometimes use city buildings as nesting sites, offering unique urban birdwatching opportunities.
Whether in the wilderness or the city, falcons are always an exciting sight. Keep your eyes to the sky—you never know when you might spot one hunting at high speed!
Conclusion
Falcons bring speed, agility, and balance to Arkansas’s ecosystems. From the Peregrine Falcon’s dramatic dives to the American Kestrel’s hovering hunts, these birds are fascinating to watch. Protecting their habitats ensures future generations can enjoy their presence. Conservation efforts and awareness are key to keeping these remarkable raptors thriving.
