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American Kestrel

Falco sparveriusOrder: FALCONIFORMESFamily: Falcons (Falconidae)
American Kestrel Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked
  • Eye Color: Dark brown
  • Head Pattern: Unique pattern
  • Crown Color: Blue-gray with red-brown spot.
  • Forehead Color: White and blue-gray.
  • Nape Color: Red-brown with black stripe.
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: Yellow
American Kestrel Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 23-30 cm (9-12 in)
  • Weight: 111 g (3.9 oz)
  • Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color Primary: Gray, Rufous or Rust
  • Underparts: Orange with brown spots.
  • Upperparts: Red-brown back, blue-gray wings with white spotting.
  • Back Pattern: Barred or banded
  • Belly Pattern: Spotted or speckled
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
American Kestrel Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Soars on thermals., Several rapid wing beats followed by a glide., Often hovers on rapidly beating wings.
  • Wingspan Range: 51-64 cm (20-25 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings, Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Barred
  • Upper Tail: Red-brown with black bands.
  • Under Tail: Pale yellow-brown to red-brown with black bars.
  • Leg Color: Yellow
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Family
Species Falco sparverius
Length9 - 12 Inches
Wingspan22.5 Inches

American Kestrel

American Kestrel: Smallest North American hawk, has two distinct black facial stripes, rust-brown tail and back, slate-blue wings, black-spotted underparts. Eats bats, rodents, insects, frogs, small reptiles, and birds. Alternates several rapid wing beats with glides, also hovers. Soars on thermals.

● Song: "klee-klee-klee", "killy, killy, killy"

● Foraging & Feeding: American Kestrel: Hunts in early morning and evening in summer, eating mostly large insects such as grasshoppers. During winter months, hunts throughout daylight hours and eats small mammals, birds, and amphibians.

● Breeding & nesting: American Kestrel: Female is promiscuous, mating with two or three males prior to settling with a single mate. Three to seven white or pale pink eggs are laid, usually in a tree cavity. Incubation ranges from 29 to 30 days and is carried out by the female; however, the male occasionally takes over incubation duties.

● Similar species: American Kestrel: Sharp-shinned Hawk is larger with rounded wings and different overall pattern. Merlin is larger with broader-based wings, lacks rust-brown tones on back and wings, has single moustache stripe mark, and strongly checkered underwings.

Flight Pattern

Soars on thermals., Several rapid wing beats followed by a glide., Often hovers on rapidly beating wings.
American Kestrel Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: American Kestrel: Breeds from Northwest Territories and Alaska east through Maritime Provinces and south throughout most of the continent. Usually winters north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, and New England. Preferred habitats include towns, cities, parks, farmlands, and open country.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight3.9 Ounces