Young kestrels beg for food in this nest at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. To see more Nest Box Cam pictures, go to http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse and click on “Nest Box Cam.”

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the most abundant and widely distributed diurnal bird of prey in the Western Hemisphere. Why, then, is it on The Birdhouse Network’s “Most Wanted” list? Although the Breeding Bird Survey suggests that kestrel populations have been stable for 30 years on the whole, these open-habitat hunters are declining in several physiographic regions (see map below).

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the American Kestrel’s breeding range expanded in the eastern United States in response to widespread deforestation and increased agricultural lands. However, some regions became less suitable for kestrels with the return of forests or increased urban growth. In favorable habitats, a lack of suitable nesting cavities appears to limit the kestrel’s population in many parts of its breeding range.

For nest sites, kestrels rely on cavities such as abandoned woodpecker holes or crevices in cliffs. They readily use nest boxes and will breed in habitats altered by humans, such as agricultural fields and parklands, where they prey on insects, small birds, mice, and lizards.

North American breeding range of the American Kestrel. Physiographic regions with population declines and increases based on the Breeding Bird Survey and Partners in Flight data.

You can help improve kestrel habitat by providing nest boxes. A kestrel nest box resembles a large bluebird box. By placing it within at least one acre of open habitat and spacing multiple boxes roughly one half mile apart, you’ll increase the likelihood of attracting breeding birds. By March, before the kestrels establish their territories, attach the nest box to a barn, shed, pole, or isolated tree, at least 12 feet high. Place a few inches of coarse wood chips in the bottom of the box.

Keep in mind that kestrels are sensitive to disturbance early in the nesting cycle. Look for signs of nesting activity from a distance. Once you observe the male bringing food to the box, wait 7–10 days to check the box to avoid disturbing the female during egg-laying. Then visit the box at roughly two-week intervals.

We encourage you to contribute valuable data on breeding biology by submitting your records to The Birdhouse Network. If you are lucky enough to see these beautiful falcons in their nest box, it is an image you will not soon forget. If you are not so lucky, visit The Birdhouse Network’s Nest Box Cam, which contains archived images and commentary on a kestrel nest near Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

For more information about American Kestrels and plans for building nest boxes, visit The Birdhouse Network online at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse or Hawk Mountain Sanctuary at http://www.hawkmountain.org. To learn more about The Birdhouse Network check out the web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse.

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