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American Kestrel

By Taylor Buell

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ClassificationKingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Aves

Order:Falconiformes

Family:Falconine

Species:Falco Sparverius

Closely related species

American Kestrel Sharp Shinned Hawk

Physical Characteristics of

sexesCrown: Blue/grey crown with black

and white lines

Solid black eyes

Pointed swings meant to dive down for prey

Rufous tail

Curved, pointed, and sharp beak

Female is lager than male

Size:Length - 7 to 8 inches

Wingspan – 50 to 61 cm

MaleBlue/grey wings

Breast is light brown with black dots

Back is reddish with same black dot pattern

Under the wings is a cream/brown design

80 to 105 grams

FemaleMostly brown

Cream breast heavily streaked with dark brown

Spots of shades of browns over almost all of the rest of the bird

Larger then male

100 to 120 grams

Different SexesFemale Male

Only birds in North America migrate to Canada in the Spring.

Does not hibernate or undergo torpor.

Fun Fact:Only kestrel in the

Western Hampshire

Callshttp://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_Kestrel/sounds

HabitatAlmost any open area with:• Short ground vegetation

• Scarce trees

Such as:Meadows Pastures

Grasslands Deserts Parks

Farm fields

NestCavity Nesters

• Natural cavities in large trees• Crevices in rocks • Nooks in buildings

9 – 32 feet above groundSometimes for entire life span

Conservation StatusIUCN - Least concern

Most abundant falcon in North America 1.2 million pairs and slowly decreasing

People are building on their habitat like meadows and fields

The American Kestrel Fund is putting nestboxes in certain places for them

Reproduction

By 1st Spring is sexually mature

Male operate daring dive displays to attract females

Bond with mate will sometimes last for years or their entire life

Lay 3-7 yellowish white eggs with a tan molting

Parental Care

Incubation mostly by female, the male brings food and

sometimes helps.26 to 32 days - the eggs hatch.

16 to 17 days – enlarge to adult weight

Another 12 to 14 days – leave the nest

Longevity and Mortality

Wild

Average of 3 years

Oldest on record 11 years and 7 months

Captivity

Some have lived up to 17 years

Diet

To Catch its Prey

They sit at high perches like telephone poles and rarely soar

Has awesome vision and can pin- point its prey

Dives down and catches its prey

Predators

Mainly Raptors:Red-tailed HawkCooper’s Hawk

Peregrine FalconNorthern Goshawk

Barn OwlGreat Horned

Raccoons and squirrels will go after eggs and juveniles

Human Relationship

sUsed to hunt – falconry

For beginnersIn captivity, use them for test

and experiments to study breeding cycle

Speed up reproductive process by making days slightly shorter

Not good pets

Fun FactsSmallest falcon in North AmericaMost abundant falcon in North AmericaOnly kestrel in the Western HampshireUsed to be know as a Sparrow Hawk, but then discovered it was not even a hawk

Works CitedAlderfer, Jonathan. "American Kestrel." American Kestrel - National Geographic. National Geographic, 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/american-kestrel/>.Biacich, Paul J., and Colin J. O. Harrison. "American Kestrel." Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University, 2005. 103. Print.Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "American Kestrel." American Kestrel, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Cornell lab of Onithology, 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/american_Kestrel/lifehistory#top>.Henny, Charles J. "American Kestrel." Birds of Oregon. Ed. David B. Marshall, Matthew G. Hunter, and Alan L. Contreras. Corvallis: Oregon State UP, 2006. 162-64. Print.Myers, Phil. "Chordata." ADW: Chordata: INFORMATION. U of Michigan, 2001. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chordata/>.Peterson, Corinne. "Conservation Corner-American Kestrel." Conservation Corner-American Kestrel. Pocahontas County, 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. <http://pocahontas-county.com/sites/default/files/cons%20corner%202-27-13.pdf>.Smallwood, John A., and David M. Bird. "American Kestrel Introduction." American Kestrel - Birds of North America Online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2013. <http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/602/articles/introduction>.Woodard, Allyson. "American Kestrel Partnership." American Kestrel Partnership. Peregine Fund, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2013. <http://www.peregrinefund.org/american-kestrel>.

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