American Kestrel
Falco
sparverius
Description
9-12" (23-30 cm). W. 21" (53 cm). A
jay-sized falcon, often seen hovering. Recognizable in all plumages
by rusty tail and back. Adult male has slate-blue wings. Female has
rusty wings and back, narrow bands on tail. Both sexes have 2 black
stripes on face.
Voice
Shrill killy-killy-killy.
Habitat
Towns and cities, parks, farmlands, and
open country.
Nesting
4 or 5 white or pinkish eggs, blotched
with brown, placed without nest or lining in a natural or man-made
cavity.
Range
Breeds from Alaska and Northwest
Territories east through Maritime Provinces and south throughout
continent. Winters north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, and New
England. Also in American tropics.
Discussion
Unlike larger falcons, the "Sparrow
Hawk" has adapted to humans and nests even in our largest cities,
where it preys chiefly on House Sparrows. In the countryside it
takes insects, small birds, and rodents, capturing its prey on the
ground rather than in midair like other falcons. The female does
most of the incubating and is fed by the male. The male calls as he
nears the nest with food; the female flies to him, receives the
food, and returns to the nest. After the eggs hatch, the male
continues to bring most of the food. The young stay with the adults
for a time after fledging, and it is not uncommon to see family
parties in late summer.
