# American Kestrel (*Falco sparverius*) The American Kestrel is a small and colorful bird of prey. They love to perch high up and watch for little insects and mice to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 98 - **Habitat:** Open fields, grasslands, and deserts - **Also known as:** Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk ![American Kestrel](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426223/objects/4600.jpg) ## Appearance The American Kestrel is North America's smallest and most colorful falcon. Males have slate-blue wings and a rufous back, while females are more reddish-brown. Both sport distinctive black 'mustache' markings on their white faces. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Falconiformes - **Family:** Falconidae - **Genus:** Falco ## Interesting facts - Kestrels often nest in old woodpecker holes or special human-made nest boxes! - Kestrels sometimes store extra food in secret spots for a later snack! - Males and females look so different, they almost seem like different birds! - This small hunter often ambushes prey from a high perch like a power line! ## Special abilities - **Hovering Hunter:** American Kestrel can hover perfectly still in the air because of powerful, rapid wingbeats that helps them spot tiny prey below. - **Invisible Ink Vision:** American Kestrel has ultraviolet vision that helps them see rodent urine trails, guiding them to hidden food. - **Lightning Fast Reflexes:** American Kestrel has incredible agility that helps them snatch insects mid-flight with speed. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 22-31 cm - **Wingspan:** 51-61 cm - **Weight:** 0.08-0.165 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-5 years - **Speed:** 64 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny but mighty, this falcon munches on insects, small birds, and rodents. - **Age differences:** Young kestrels eat more insects, while adults add more small mammals and birds. - **Primary Foods:** Grasshoppers, Mice, Voles, Beetles, Small birds, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Main prey for kestrel diet. - **Eats:** American Grasshopper (*Schistocerca americana*) — Common insect meal for young and adults. - **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — Provides old tree cavities for nesting sites. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Potential predator of eggs, nestlings, or even adults. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low While Kestrels are not dangerous, it's best to enjoy watching them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Kestrel? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Kestrel? 22-31 cm ### What is American Kestrel's wingspan? 51-61 cm ### How much does American Kestrel weigh? 0.08-0.165 kg ### How long does American Kestrel live? 1-5 years ### How fast can American Kestrel move? 64 km/h ### What does American Kestrel eat? Tiny but mighty, this falcon munches on insects, small birds, and rodents. ### Where is American Kestrel usually found? Open fields, grasslands, and deserts ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Central Park West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-park-west-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Durso Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/durso-park) — Illinois, US · Park [View all places to see American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-kestrel) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [American Kestrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel)