American Kestrels, the Smallest Falcon in North America!
Size isn't everything! The American Kestrel may be the smallest falcon in North America, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in color and beauty! This falcon has a huge range, spanning all the way down to the coast of Chile near Antartica to the treeline in Alaska. You can find this bird hunting and feeding on rats, bugs and mice in open fields.
What Does the American Kestrel Look Like?
The appearance of this beautiful bird
The American Kestrel has some unique plumage. What looks like an Egyptian hieroglyphics can be found right in the United States! Complimenting brown colors on the belly and wings are contrasted with intense blues and black barring with spots on the chest. The females have streaking on the chest.Typically, females are larger than males. They can vary in size from 9-12 inches and weighing from 2.8 ounces to 5.8 ounces. They have a 20-24 inch wingspan which makes the bird look much larger in flight.
This stop sign that the American Kestrel has landed on gives you a great idea of just how small these birds are.
Kestrel on a perch
American Kestrels Love Bugs!
These small hawks eat lots of bugs, making them an efficient "bug zapper" for the insect population!
A Falcon That Likes that Isn't So Tidy!
The American Kestrel is kind of a messy bird...
American Kestrels have odd behavior when making their nests...they take old abandoned nests in tree cavities! They're either good recyclers or they're lazy...who knows! When nesting, these falcons often spray the inside of the cavity with excrement instead of leaving the nest or spraying outside.What a mess!
American Kestrel Postage Stamps
American Kestrel Videos
Trapping hawks in the Blue Hills
Red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, American kestrels and other birds of prey should keep an eye peeled for Norman Smith. That's because Smith, director of the Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton, is out to get them. From atop Chickatawbut Hill, Smith captures raptors, tags them and releases them. As they soar over the Blue Hills on their way south to warmer climates, Smith is still as a mouse as he waits for a chance to snare one of the flying hunters in his net. ``He's the most active raptor bander in the state,'' said Thomas French, assistant director of the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
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The American Kestrel: Falcon Of Many Names
A recommended book on American Kestrels
The American Kestrel: Falcon Of Many Names
Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 11/29/2009)
List Price: $15.00
This book features an in depth look into this species, its behavior, mating habits, and is illustrated with some wonderful photos of this bird.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Breeding Habits of the American Kestrel
Breeding and eating habits
American Kestrels usually lay plenty of eggs, between 3 and 7. After approximately a month of incubation, the chicks will hatch. It will take these baby falcons a whole month to learn to fly.
Where can you see these beautiful birds?
American Kestrels can be found in open fields across North and South America. They prefer to eat crickets, grasshoppers, mice and other field critters Often times they can be found in cranberry bogs, open grasslands and farmlands. Bring your binoculars! Watch to see them hovering, or if they are sitting, watch for a bobbing tail movement. American Kestrels seem to be high-strung, so they are almost always in the air.
Wait!
The American Kestrel is actually in decline! While some sites claim that they are stable, there has definitely been a decrease in numbers of the population. Take a moment to answer our quick poll question to report any kestrel sightings, even if you have not seen one recently (or ever).
When Did you See an American Kestrel?
An American Kestrel sits on top of a fresh kill, which you can't really see in the photo, but it's under his feet (a mouse).
Where Have You Seen the American Kestrel?
And he's off! He sees some prey in the distance and decides to go for it...
How Many Times Have You Seen the American Kestrel?
A Kestrel cleans itself atop a perch.
American Kestrel Photos
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Spot Some Kestrels in your Neighborhood!
Recommended Bird Gear
The Nikon Action 8x40 Binocular comes equipped with:
- Aspherical eyepiece lenses with multi-coated prisms
- Quick central focus system
- 420-foot field of view at 1,000 yards
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective lens: 40mm
Nikon 7216 Action 8x40mm Binoculars
Amazon Price: $64.89 (as of 11/29/2009)
This pair of Nikon binoculars has an amazing solid 5-star out of 5 rating on Amazon out of 51 reviews as of publication. Some customer comments:
"Absolutely the best binoculars at this price range."
"I really was overjoyed with these binoculars. Crisp, very bright viewing. Clarity very good, and the comfort and ease of use is great."
"The Nikon Action 8x40 binoculars are terrifically sharp and bright and are a tremendous value compared to the 'bargain' binoculars offered by other manufacturers in this price range. This binocular is a sturdy, durable-feeling handful that comes with an excellent strap and solid covers for both pairs of lenses. Very sharp, accurate color rendition, easy and rapid focus."
All in all, customers are very satisfied with this product for its ease of use, flexibility, durability and affordable price. Start birding!
American Kestrel
Thanks For Flying By!
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Have you had an experience with the American Kestrel or just want to drop in? Leave your thoughts here!
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- spirituality spirituality May 16, 2009 @ 12:34 am
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
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- aj2008 aj2008 Apr 24, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
- We have Kestrels in the UK but I think they are a bit bigger than their American cousins. Beautiful lens and blessed by an Angel!
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- Olav_the_Viking Olav_the_Viking Mar 31, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
- The Kestral nesting box that I built last year and set up on our south half acre appears to have been located by a pair that I have observed recently. They are now going in and out of the box, performing mating activities, etc. I don't believe that the female has started laying yet, since she and the male are both still hunting in the area. I observed one of them take a sparrow near our chicken coop where there is always a lot of scratch available. Hopefully this pair will produce many offspring.
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- paperfacets paperfacets Jan 31, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
- When we first moved to our neighborhood I saw the kestrel a couple of times. After 25 yrs i see them no more, but we have built a bird house that we hope has good specs to attract them to mate. I will let you know of we get any chicks.
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- naturegirl7 naturegirl7 Oct 30, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
- Kestrels will nest in boxes if they are built with the right specs for them. Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens link to the appropriate plexo and vote for it.
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Reply
- fledgling fledgling Jun 13, 2008 @ 3:50 am
- Great lens, very informative. I live in Downeast Maine, and was leaving my garage, and heard the recognizable sound of a bird in distress. As I rounded the corner, I was startled by a kestrel who appeared to have a starling on the ground. The Kestrel looked at me, and both birds flew quickly away. I did not know it was a Kestrel at the time, but the face markings were easily identifiable.I hope the starling was not mortally wounded.
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- ANDRI ANDRI May 11, 2008 @ 6:39 am
- wondeful lens with wonderful bird
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- wildrosetreasure wildrosetreasure Apr 9, 2008 @ 6:16 am
- Great lens.
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Reply
- beesknees-23 beesknees-23 Apr 7, 2008 @ 8:10 pm
- The Feline Citizens really like your taste in birds... Great lens!!
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Apr 7, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
- Beautiful Lens! From one birder to another, you did a great job. * * * * *
Liz
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The American Kestrel is a beautiful bird! The smallest falcon in North America, it is fairly common and easy to spot. Be sure to check out our other b...
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