English

falcons (peregrine and prairie falcons)

Arapaho

1. hééyei ; 2. hééyei cówoo’oo

Translation of the Arapaho

2. ‘rapid hawk/falcon ’

Location

prairie falcons can be seen hunting over the lowland areas of the Reservation. Peregrine Falcons nest and hunt in the mountains, especially around cliffs, but can be seen around ponds and wetlands in the spring and fall, hunting migratory waterbirds and shorebirds. See Ferruginous Hawk.

Falcons and the Arapaho

An Arapaho story tells about a man who was wondering who was the king of the birds. He was sitting on a hill, and he was thinking to himself about how to answer this question. The two choices were the eagle and the falcon. He finally decided that the eagle was the king, as it soared around high above him. As he sat thinking this, a falcon came diving down and struck the eagle on top of the head, killing it. The falcon is the king of the birds.