American Kestrel

kestrel: COMMON NAME: American Kestrel

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Falco sparverius

DESCRIPTION:

Though often called the sparrow hawk, the American kestrel is actually a falcon. The smallest and most common falcon in North America, males usually weigh 103-120 grams and females, being slightly larger, can weigh 126-166 grams. They are usually 19-21 cm in length with a 50-60 cm wingspan. It is the second smallest falcon in the world.

A dark vertical stripe under the eye and narrow pointed wings are some indentifying characteristics of the falcon. Males are more colorful than females, iwth blue-grey wing feathers. The female has brown and chestnut striped wings and a pale striped breast.

LIFE HISTORY:

Mating season differs for the kestrel, depending on what part of the country they are in. In California, mating usually spans from mid April to early June. The female will lay 3-7 white, cream, or pale pink eggs. The female will then incubate the eggs for around 30 days, while the male hunts for the family. The young fledge 30 days after hatching, but will remain part of the family unit for quite some time.

ECOLOGY:

American kestrels feed on large insects, small mammals and small birds, usually mice and grasshoppers. They will hunt by perching or hovering in the air and then swooping down when they see their prey. During the summer, the kestrel will usually hunt in the early morning or evening and they will hunt during the day when winter arrives. They can be found across North and South America in areas that are not heavily forested. They have no seasonal migration.

Adopt-an-Animal at CALM

animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu, the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology


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