Fun Facts!

A group of kestrels is referred to as a “flight,” a “soar,’ or a “hover.”

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

This smallest of North American falcons, the American kestrel is considered to be the most colorful raptor in the world. It has a rust brown tail and back, black and slate blue wings and black spots on its underbelly. It has two distinct black facial stripes, and two dark marks on its mouth area, like a moustache. The male has blue-gray wings and a lightly spotted chest and belly. The larger female has wings barred with black, and a streaked pattern on its chest. Their bodies are 9-12 inches in length and their wingspan is from 21-24 inches.

DIET IN THE WILD

The American kestrel is a carnivorous falcon, and primarily feeds on a variety of small animals, including grasshoppers, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, small mammals, sparrows and other small birds, reptiles and amphibians. Although the kestrel typically captures their prey on the ground, some have been observed capturing small birds in flight.

HABITAT

The American kestrel can be found throughout most of North and South America, but prefers cooler climates, including British Columbia, the Great Lakes region and the New England area. Their nests can be found in a variety of places, from nooks and crannies in big-town buildings to parks, farmlands and open country.

BEHAVIOR

Females kestrels begin migrating south before the males. When the females arrive in the overwintering site, they select a more desirable, open habitat. When the males arrive, they are forced into the less preferred areas with more trees.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Since they have few predators, they are on the least endangered species list. Kestrels are abundant and non-threatened. They nest readily in boxes offered by humans in addition to natural nesting places, and few conservation measures are needed.

REPRODUCTION

Kestrels are monogamous. Eggs in the nest are incubated for about 30 days. Three to seven eggs appear in the nest and generally 3-5 chicks are hatched. The male and female kestrels take turns minding the nest.

LIFE SPAN

In captivity, they can live about 10-15 years.