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THE AMERICAN KESTREL
PINE BLUFFS — Probably the most colorful raptor in the world, the American Kestrel’s (Falcon sparverius) size – only 9 to 12 inches – earns it the distinction of being the smallest of the hawks. Formerly known as the Sparrow Hawk, it has adapted well to Mankind. It’s the most common falcon in North America.1
Identification
This flighty fellow’s pointed wings are 21-23 inches long. Its facial pattern features two black stripes resembling mustache marks. Male Kestrels have blue-gray heads and wings and a russet-brown tail with a black tip. Females sport brown heads and wings with tails striped with black and brown.2
When watching for the adult male Kestrel, look for a small, long-tailed hawk with a short, dark, hooked beak and long, narrow wings. In addition to those black mustache marks, his gray crown, white cheeks, and black circle at the rear of his crown on both sides, make him easier to spot.3
The adult female’s breast is pale, puffed and streaked with brown. She has a rust-brown nape, back and wing coverts, barred heavily with black, and a rust-brown tail with dark bars of even width and a narrow white terminal band.4
Range
Kestrels occur in the Americas as far north as the tree line in Alaska and Canada, and as far south as Tierra del Fuego and the West Indies. They inhabit open deserts, semi-open areas and the edges of groves. Although they like trees for nesting, Kestrels are not found in heavily forested areas such as the Amazon basin.5
Birds of a Feather . . .
Nesting and Diet
Kestrels nest in tree cavities, but where trees are lacking they’ll use holes in other structures or seek man-made nesting boxes. Mom lays 3 - 5 white or pinkish eggs blotched with brown. Incubation takes 29 - 31 days. The old man feeds his spouse while she’s on the nest, bringing her insects, small birds — House sparrows are a favorite — and rodents.7
This typical member of the kestrel family hunts from high perches or on the wing, sometimes hovers while hunting, and is alert, noisy and suspicious. Its high-pitched cry of “klee – klee -- klee” can become annoying if you’re seeking peace and quiet in the wild.
[1]AmericanKestrel, www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/
2 Adopt-A-Bird, www.adoptabird.org/ak.html
3 American Kestrel Identification Tips, www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.org
4 Ibid, p.1
5 The Hawk Conservancy, www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/amkest.shtml
6 Wyoming Game & Fish, http://gf.state.wy.us/
7 Adopt-A-Bird, www.adoptabird.org/ak.html