The American Kestrel is the most common falcon in North America. This small but powerful predator may not be impressive in size, but it makes up for it in other attributes. What makes the American Kestrel special? Read on to learn some interesting facts about this pocket raptor.

15 facts about the American kestrel

1. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America

Varies from the size of a blue jay to the size of a mourning dove. The American Kestrel is the smallest of its North American relatives. It shows typical size differences among birds of prey, with females being slightly larger than males.

Male and female kestrels can also be distinguished by color. Females have rusty brown wings, while males’ wings are blue. Males have a black stripe on their tail feathers, and females have a black stripe.

2. Kestrels can see ultraviolet light

The ability to see UV light is a trait found in many diurnal birds of prey. This ability helps them track their prey as they hover in the air. It is speculated that the ability to see UV light helped them detect the urine left behind by small animals as they ran away.

3. They hunt as a family

When young kestrels first start hunting, they go with their parents. This gives the young birds a chance to become skilled hunters before leaving the nest. This is important because many young kestrels die of starvation. Only about 30-30% survive to adulthood.

Unlike other kestrels, your kestrel does not have many quarrels. Siblings often roost together and fly together before leaving the nest.

4. Kestrel chicks are gluttonous

Growing baby birds eat twice as much food per day as adult birds! This means that these tiny hatchlings eat 2 to 3 mice or voles per day, which is especially shocking considering their small size.

The female will stay with the chicks for the first 12-14 days after they hatch to help regulate their body temperature as they cannot do this themselves, and to protect them from predators. During this time, the male will bring food to the female and her nest.

5. Kestrels do not build nests

Kestrels nest in tree cavities, abandoned crow’s nests, rock crevices and any other nook or cranny they can find, whether natural or man-made. They don’t have the ability to create their own holes, so they need to find an unused one or evict the current residents. American kestrels have been seen chasing bluebirds and squirrels out of their nests.

Unlike some birds, kestrels do not keep their nests neat. When defecating, they often lean on one side of the nest. The nest is also filled with the remaining pieces of feathers and bones from the young bird. Despite messy nests, kestrels will return to the same nesting sites year after year.

6. Kestrels are popular in falconry

Because of their small size, American kestrels are often used by beginner falconers. They are also becoming popular among more experienced falconers. They settle in quickly and have attractive personalities. Along with the red-tailed hawk, the kestrel is the only bird species permitted for use by apprentice falconers in the United States.

The way a small falcon like a kestrel is used in a falconry is different from using a larger bird like a falcon. They are often used to repel birds such as starlings and sparrows. The use of a small bird is called micro-falconry.

7. Voles help predict the breeding season of American kestrels

The number of voles in an American kestrel’s territory is directly related to the success of that year’s breeding season. In a year where there are very few voles, kestrels will lay few or no eggs. Years with more voles will have more young voles. Voles are the American kestrel’s main food source during the winter months when their other prey is scarce.

During the warmer months, kestrels have a more diverse diet. They eat insects, mice, worms, lizards, frogs and bats. Although small, they are effective hunters. They have even been seen killing and eating squirrels.

8. American kestrels are shrinking

The American kestrel is gradually making its way onto the threatened list. Their numbers are decreasing and scientists are not sure why. There may be a link between pesticides and the decline in kestrel numbers. One theory is that current pesticides are leading to impaired fertility.

Their numbers aren’t the only thing dwindling. The average body weight of kestrels has decreased by about 5 grams. This may be due to the decreasing number of prey as humans encroach deeper into their habitat. With urbanization, kestrels are losing their hunting and nesting grounds. To encourage the proliferation of kestrels, bird lovers are being urged to erect nesting boxes to attract kestrels that are losing nesting sites.

9. American kestrels are monogamous

Kestrels form monogamous pairs and often stay together for several years. The male gives the female food and will choose the nest site, with the female making the final decision. Some kestrel populations do not migrate and the birds stay around nesting sites all year round.

American kestrels usually lay 3 to 7 eggs. The chicks will mature in about 30 days and will leave the nest and become independent about 30 days after birth.

10. American Kestrels keep records of their kills

To save food for later or to prevent it from being stolen, kestrels will hide their extra kills. They will hide it in tree roots, in grass or in tree holes. Caching is a common behavior among predators to ensure that they can access food if they suddenly lack prey.

Many bird species only exhibit caching behavior in fall and winter. However, Kestrels store year-round. They concentrate most of their storage on the fall and winter months, and store less frequently in the summer.

11. American Kestrel hunts from perch

Kestrels are often seen in rural areas, perching on electricity poles. This is due to their hunting behavior. They need to be at altitude to survey a large area and detect the movements of any potential prey. They can move from one perch to another several times a day. Kestrels occasionally hover in search of prey in areas without suitable roosts. Although they prefer to perch, kestrels are adept at flying and are one of the species that can fly the longest.

Kestrels often catch prey from the ground and return to their perches to consume, unless they carry it to the nest. They will eat worms and insects on the ground or in the air, but larger prey, such as mice and voles, will be driven back to their perches.

12. Males migrate farther than females in winter

This may be because females finish molting earlier than males and start molting earlier. Female American Kestrels leave their winter homes about 11 days before males. This means that female kestrels often find the best habitat, forcing males to find less ideal areas to spend the winter.

Female kestrels tend to choose open areas in winter, forcing males to live in less attractive wooded areas. Not all Kestrel populations are migratory. Those with northern breeding grounds migrated, while those living in more southern areas stayed.

13. The American Kestrel has a rather short lifespan

Kestrels in the wild only last an average of about 5 years. This may partly be because they are small raptors and are targeted by larger predators such as owls and hawks. The American kestrel has two black eye spots on the back of its head that help confuse and deter predators.

The oldest kestrel that was tied up and later found again in the same condition had survived to be at least 14 years old. This one was originally captured and tied in 1987 in Utah and was found again in 2001. Kestrels in captivity typically survive to about 17 years of age.

14. There are 17 subspecies of American Kestrel

The American Kestrel has a wide distribution range, extending from North America to South America. The subspecies are very distinct, with differences in color and markings. The Cuban subspecies has no facial markings and has a dark head, while the Caribbean bird has no spots or bars. Subspecies can also be identified by differences in size and differences in vocalizations.

15. The American Kestrel has many different nicknames

Previously, they were called hawk sparrows, not to be confused with Eurasian sparrows. and they also have affectionate nicknames such as grasshopper hawks and Killy hawks.