American Kestrel

The American kestrel is also known as Sparrow Hawk. Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America. Let's known about it. 

Image source: Google: https://www.hawkmountain.org/

Scientific name - Felco sparverius

 

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Family	Falconidae
Genus	Falco
Species	sparverius

About- 

They have a size of 9 inches. Their wingspan is 51-61 cm long. They are 22-31 cm in length. Males can have 80-143 g of weight. Females are slightly larger than males so they are 86-165 g in weight. Females live less than 5 years. The oldest kestrel lived up to 11 years 7 months. In captivity, they can live 14-17 years. They come in the category of least concern but they are decreasing because of starving.

Diet-

They usually feed on insects 🐛, like grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles, dragonflies, butterflies 🦋, moths, spiders🕷️, scorpions 🦂, lizards 🦎, small birds 🐦, etc.

Habitat-

Kestrel is the native bird of North America. They can be seen in the grasslands, meadows, deserts, open to the semi-open region, urban and suburban areas. They do not prefer dense forests, vast treeless wetlands, and mountains. 

Migration-

Most of the kestrel breed in Canada and the Northern United States migrate to the south in winters❄️. 

Identification -

They are sexually dimorphism. Adult males are rusty and have slate-blue wings two black slashes in the face. Females are larger than males and are overall rusty, with black gashes on their wings.  Both male's and females' heads are white with bluish-grey tops. They have two slender, vertical black markings on their face. Two spots are also found on each side near their eyes and can be considered false eyes. Which helps them from the attackers. 

Mating and Nesting- 

They usually mature in their first spring.

Male Kestrels arrive at the breeding ground before the females. Here females select the males. They have strong bond pairs or can be said the permanent bonds. They usually do not build their own nest they find old woodpeckers' nests, natural hollow nests, or closets in buildings, or some human-made nests. Female lays 3- 7 clutch of the egg of white color with brown or grey splotching. Males transfer the food to the females for 4-5 Weeks previous to the laying of eggs. The incubation goes for 30 days. Here mostly females incubate the eggs.  

 

  Facts - 

• They are known for their habit of hovering while hunting.
• They usually give a chance to the young ones to practice hunting with their parents to check their skills and develop some. 
• They are illegal in United States, Canada and Mexico to possess without the permit.