Tiny Hunter: The American Kestrel

The American kestrel is the tiniest falcon in North America and, except for the Seychelles kestrel (Falco araea), one of the smallest falcons in the world. Like all members of the Falco genus, these birds have dark eyes, a notched beak, and bare legs.

Male kestrels show a reddish-brown back, bluish wings, and a rusty tail with a black tip. Females display reddish-brown wings, back, and tail, all patterned with black bars. Both sexes feature a dark vertical stripe through the eye, with white patches on the cheeks and chin. The crown is bluish with a rusty cap, more vivid in males.

Range

American kestrels are broadly distributed across the Americas. Their breeding range stretches from central and western Alaska, across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and southward through the United States into central Mexico, Baja, and the Caribbean. They are occasional breeders in parts of Central America and are widespread in South America. Most northern birds migrate south for the winter, though some males remain in the same territory year-round.

Habitat

These falcons inhabit diverse environments, including urban parks, suburban areas, open fields, forest edges, alpine regions, and deserts. Kestrels need open spaces for hunting, vantage points for perching, nesting cavities, and an ample food supply. In Minnesota, they are observed in both cities and rural landscapes, hunting from telephone wires or tree branches and hovering over open fields.

Nesting

American kestrels nest in cavities, including tree holes, nest boxes, or small spaces in buildings. Both parents take part in incubating the eggs, which hatch around 30 days after being laid. Clutches usually contain three to five chicks. Young kestrels grow rapidly, reaching adult weight in roughly two and a half weeks and leaving the nest approximately one month after hatching. If the first nest fails, the pair may attempt a second brood, and in southern states, some raise two broods in a year.

Diet

During summer, kestrels primarily consume insects, captured on the ground or in flight. They also feed on small mammals and birds. In winter, their diet shifts to focus mainly on rodents and birds.

Raptor Center Data

The kestrel used to be a frequent patient at The Raptor Center (TRC), but now they are less common. About twenty years ago, nearly 100 kestrels were admitted annually, while in 2018, only 17 were treated.

Conservation

While not currently protected with a special status in many regions, research has shown worrying population declines across North America, including Minnesota. The Peregrine Fund has launched the American Kestrel Partnership to monitor populations and study the causes behind their decline.