The American Kestrel
The American kestrel is a small, slender falcon about the size of a mourning dove, but with a larger head, narrow wings, and a long, square-tipped tail. In flight, its wings often appear bent, with the tips swept back. From below, kestrels look pale, while their backs are a warm, rusty brown with black spots and a black band near the tip of the tail. Males have bluish-gray wings, while females have reddish-brown wings. Both have black vertical markings on their faces—nicknamed a “mustache” and “sideburn.”
These agile hunters typically hunt their prey from the ground, although they can catch insects in midair too. They fly with a light, graceful motion, but are small enough to be tossed by the wind. When perched, kestrels often pump their tails, like they’re trying to stay balanced.
You’ll often see American kestrels in open areas like deserts, grasslands, and meadows, perched on telephone wires or fence posts along roadsides.
