American Kestrel

The American Kestrel has a reddish brown back and tail, and a gray, black and white face pattern with two moustache-like, vertical stripes. The coverts, or outer feathers, on the wings of the male kestrel are blue gray, whereas the female's wings are reddish brown. The size of a jay, kestrels hover for prey on rapidly beating wings.

Distribution and Breeding Habitat
American Kestrels are found throughout the United States and Canada. They prefer open urban or cultivated areas containing scattered trees or other high perches, such as utility lines. Their habitat is varied, including forest edges, orchards, pastures, and deserts.

Kestrels forage near roadsides and in open fields. These birds of prey feed on a variety of small mammals and birds, reptiles, and insects, particularly grasshoppers. They also eat small birds, chiefly in the winter.

Pair Formation and Territoriality
Although American Kestrels are known to be monogamous, much remains to be learned about pair formation and territoriality in this species. Early in the breeding season, the male hunts for and feeds the female. He continues to feed her throughout the egg-laying, incubation, and hatching periods.

Nesting Behavior
The breeding season can begin as early as March or as late as May, depending upon the latitude. Kestrels usually have one brood per season, but in the southern portion of the range or in regions where prey is plentiful, double broods are common. Pairs that are double-brooded often reuse the nest from the first brood.

    Nest Building:  Kestrels nest in snags, deserted woodpecker holes, and other natural tree cavities, as well as in cliffs, dirt banks, under the eaves of buildings, and in nest boxes. The male influences the female in her choice of a nest site. The nest is simple, consisting of a shallow scrape. No nesting material is brought to the nest.

    Egg Laying: Clutches usually contain three to five eggs but may have as many as seven. The eggs are white, cream, or pinkish-white with fine brown specks and spots. Markings are often more dense on one end of the egg and sometimes form a wreath. Eggs are laid in 2 to 3 day intervals.

    Incubation: The 28- to 32-day incubation period begins before the last egg is laid. The female does most of the incubation, but the male assists.

    Nestling Care: Hatching is extremely asynchronous, taking three to four days before the entire clutch is hatched. The female broods the nestlings and feeds them with food that the male brings to the nest. Later both the male and female hunt for food. After two to three weeks, the young can feed themselves. The young fledge when they are about a month old, but they return to the nest at night to roost. The young continue to depend on their parents for two weeks after fledging.

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Winter Movement and Dispersal
In winter, males and females defend separate territories, and the sexes have different habitat preferences.  Males defend habitat with dense vegetation, whereas females select more open areas. Information on migratory movement and juvenile dispersal is unknown.