A young prairie falcon will leave its eyrie at approximately what age?

A young prairie falcon typically leaves its eyrie, or nest, at the age of about five to six weeks. This is a crucial developmental stage for the chicks, as they begin to explore their surroundings and strengthen their wings in preparation for flying. By this age, they have developed sufficient feathers and muscle strength to take their first flights, although they may still rely on their parents for food and guidance for some time afterward.

In contrast, the later age ranges provided in the other choices reflect milestones that occur after fledging, such as further independence or hunting skills. At eight to nine weeks, young prairie falcons are generally still honing their flying abilities while remaining close to their nesting area. By twelve to thirteen weeks, they are progressively becoming more self-sufficient but may not have fully developed the skills needed for independent survival. Finally, the sixteen to nineteen weeks age range is usually when these young falcons are completely independent, having learned to hunt effectively. Thus, the key milestone of leaving the eyrie occurs around five to six weeks, making that the correct answer.