American Kestrel
Ranked #4,125 in Pets & Animals, #104,909 overall
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
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
The American Kestrel on Flickr
More photos of the American kestrel
Here's a fee of new American Kestrel photos on flickr right now:
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...
What a mess!
American Kestrel Postage Stamps
American Kestrel Videos
The American Kestrel: Falcon Of Many Names
A recommended book on American Kestrels
The American Kestrel: Falcon of Many Names
Amazon Price: $11.17 (as of 05/28/2012)
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.
Breeding Habits of the American Kestrel
Breeding and eating habits
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!
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
More Information on Wild Birds
Owls, songbirds, and endangered bird species
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: $64.00 (as of 05/28/2012)
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!
Leave a note in my Guestbook!
Have you had an experience with the American Kestrel or just want to drop in? Leave your thoughts here!
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desertdarlene Jan 27, 2012 @ 10:27 am | delete
- I see them often. They like to hunt small birds and shorebird chicks, too.
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SaintFrantic
Oct 17, 2011 @ 11:29 am | delete
- So tiny looks like big sparrow.
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Sep 8, 2011 @ 3:11 pm | delete
- Enjoyed this lens. I have kestrels living near me here in an alpine valley of Colorado. Beautiful birds.
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vivahoffmann
Jun 16, 2011 @ 12:34 am | delete
- a nesting pair in a palm tree out by the pool. in air most of the time. male usually sits on nest. another pair trying to evict them every evening. the nesting pair divert the interlopers by sitting on different trees. sometimes there are fights. tonight the male i think brought something to eat on another palm tree, on the ends of the cut-off fronds, just as the nest is on the ends of the cut-off fronds on the opposite end of the pool. I'm in the desert. there are about ten palm trees, five on each end of the pool. first the female ate from whatever it was, then the male, then the female again. they don't like being observed and turn a gimlet eye to me, when I have the binoculars. at least that's what it seems like.
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annmackiemiller Apr 23, 2011 @ 9:20 am | delete
- good lens, Angel blessed and featured on my wild bird lenses lens
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AndyPo
Dec 29, 2009 @ 7:38 am | delete
- Great lens. I see the European variety frequently from my lounge window (they hover, waiting to pounce on small rodents in the field in front) but I'm not sure if I have seen the American variety.
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spirituality May 16, 2009 @ 12:34 am | delete
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
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aj2008
Apr 24, 2009 @ 2:23 pm | delete
- 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
Mar 31, 2009 @ 1:31 pm | delete
- 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 Jan 31, 2009 @ 7:53 pm | delete
- 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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P.S. - You can also find the author of this page on Tumblr.
by kiwisoutback
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 bird... more »
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