American Kestrel female in flight. Photo by Bill Schmoker.
The carefree, buoyant flight of an American Kestrel is something that even veteran birders stop to watch. These small, colorful falcons might be overlooked by non-birders, but once you tune into the fascinating world of kestrels, you might just find yourself looking for other raptors. And other birds. And next thing you know, you’re a birder too. Read on, and learn why kestrels are cool.
What do they look like?
American Kestrels are roughly the size of a blue jay, 7-9 inches long, with a wingspan of 20-24 inches. Easily our most colorful birds of prey, males and females have very different plumages:
American Kestrel male on wire. Photo by Dan Haas (Annapolis, MD).
Males have an orange chest with a few black speckles, blue-gray wings and a bright rusty tail with a wide single black band at the end. The female’s chest is pale with brown streaks, and their wings and tails are a rich rusty color with black barring. Both sexes have two vertical black stripes under their eyes.
All falcons share a basic shape: Long pointed wings, a streamlined body and fanned tail. Although both the Merlin and Peregrine Falcon are similar in shape, these birds are larger than kestrels and lack their bold colors.
Where do they live?
You can find kestrels throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Argentina. Most of the northern birds (Canada and the northern states) migrate south in winter, thought some males may stay as year-round residents. The kestrel lives in open areas with low ground vegetation like grasslands, meadows, deserts, and will even live in urban settings. Example: There are 150 nesting pairs of kestrels in New York City!
Kestrels are usually a short-lived bird, with a life span averaging around 15 months. But there have been reports of banded birds living up to 11 years.
What do they sound like?
Kestrels have three primary calls: The “klee” or “killy”, the “whine” and the “chitter”. The “klee” call is usually delivered in a rapid series, when the bird is excited or upset. The “whine” is given during feeding time at the nest, and the “chitter” is used during interaction between the male and female, such as during courtship or mating.
What do they eat and how do they hunt?
American Kestrel female perched. Photo by Corey Finger.
Kestrels prey mostly on large insects like grasshoppers and dragonflies, and small animals like lizards, mice, voles and the occasional songbird. Their most common way of hunting is while perched in a tree, or on a fence post or pole, and dropping onto the prey as it comes near. As they prepare to pounce on the prey, they will bob their heads and tails right before takeoff. They also hunt in flight, hovering with strong wing beats while scanning the ground. Look for them in the median on highways, “helicoptoring” as they prepare to drop onto a mouse or grasshopper!
Photo by Holly Merker.
American Kestrel female (juvenile) a few weeks prior to fledging from a nest box. Photo by Holly Merker.
Where do they nest?
Kestrels are cavity nesters. They will use holes in trees, rock cavities, small spaces on buildings and artificial nest boxes. No nest is built inside the cavity. They have better success in nest boxes on poles versus boxes on trees. Both sexes will share the job of incubation, a rare thing among North American birds of prey. Between 3 and 7 eggs are laid and they hatch about 30 days later. The young fledge, or leave the nest, around day 30.
Kestrels in falconry
American Kestrels, along with the Red-tailed Hawk, are one of two raptors almost universally used by new (apprentice) falconers in the United States. According to the Book of St. Albans, a treaty printed back in 1486, the only bird a “knave” or servant could fly was a kestrel.
Some cool facts about kestrels
- We’ve all seen bobble heads, those toys whose heads bob while the body stays still. Well, kestrels can do the opposite: keeping their heads fixed in space no matter how its body is bouncing around.
- Kestrels can see in the ultraviolet range, so they are able to follow rodents’ urine trails through vegetation.
- The dark streaks under a falcon’s eyes are thought to serve the same purpose as those black smudges athletes smear under their eyes when playing in bright sunlight. The dark pigment absorbs the light and keeps it from reflecting into their eyes.
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Conservation status:
Birders in some areas are finding that, at least through parts of the year, the once endangered Peregrine Falcon is now easier to find than the once abundant American Kestrel, a startling reversal that has happened in a relatively short time span. Across the Eastern U.S., kestrel numbers are decreasing, with the sharpest declines in the last ten years. From sources like Christmas Bird counts, hawk watches and breeding bird surveys, all confirm a drastic drop in kestrel populations. The reasons for this are numerous, including loss of habitat due to human development, collisions with cars and pesticide use.
How can I help kestrels?
A good start is to stop using pesticides. Since kestrels eat lots of insects, they will also ingest any insecticide in their environment. Consider using organic means if you really have an insect problem.
If you see kestrels in your area, put up a nest box. They are easy to build and it’s a project the whole family can get into!
If you have dead trees on your property, and they are in no danger of falling on your house, don’t cut them down. More than 85 North American bird species need cavities in trees to raise their young, so even if you don’t have kestrels around, you will be helping lots of other bird species!
Get outside. Now that you know something about kestrels, get out there with binoculars and look for them! And in the process, check out all the other birds that share the world with us.
Get involved. Volunteer at a local bird rehab. Check out local conservation organizations.
Go to www.aba.org/join to learn how to get involved in the ABA!