American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius)

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American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae Characteristics: About 25-30 cm long (10-12"), it has long narrow wings and a fairly long tail. Kestrels are one of the few sexually dimorphic raptors. The males’ upper parts are hazel-colored, except for the wings, which are gray with black markings. The head is white with gray and hazel on the nape and three black stripes on each cheek. The lower parts are ocher, specked with black. The females and the young are slightly different with less brightly colored plumage. The females tend to weigh 10-15% heavier than that of males (Handbook of North American Birds). Range & Habitat: Behavior: Live year-round in both North A fairly adaptable species, which is also frequent in urban areas, flies nimbly and fast, with a pattern that is interrupted every so often when the and South America while only bird “hovers” - that is, remains in place in the air while rapidly flapping its breeding in Canada and Alaska wings to maintain its altitude. Prefers to hunt in areas where vegetation is during the summer months. less than 25 centimeters high, allowing for easier capture of prey as well as increasing the chances of identifying predators from a further distance (Bildstein & Ardia 1997). Its call is a sharp killy killy killy. Reproduction: The nest is built in a hollow in a tree or on ledges of a building. 3-7 eggs (usually 4 or 5) are laid, which are incubated mainly by the female for 29- 30 days. The nestlings can fly at about 30 days. Diet: Lifespan: Wild: Feeds mainly on insects in summer and mice and small birds in Up to 17 years in captivity, 11 winter. It has rarely been reported for them to feed also on bats. years in the wild. Zoo: Mice and rarely insects. Special Adaptations: Falcons Conservation: possess a sharp, triangular Populations are beginning to decline due to human activity. American Tomial tooth toward the front of Kestrels are currently of least concern, but are being closely monitored. the beak to aid in the killing and shredding of prey. FYI: IUCN Conservation Status: - Because kestrels are so light weight and will often scout for food from branches and wires, they have developed the ability to Least Concern maintain their heads stable while their body’s sway. - Kestrels have been known to attack other birds of prey that have invaded their territory. They attack by dive bombing them (Scholz 1993) .

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American Kestrel, Falco Sparverius
American Kestrel, Falco sparverius Status: State: Threatened Federal: Not listed Identification The American kestrel is the smallest and most widely distributed falcon in North America (Smallwood & Bird 2002, Hawk Mountain n.d.). At first glance, kestrels are often confused with other small birds such as mourning doves because of their propensity to perch on utility lines (Hawk Mountain n.d.). Kestrels however, have larger more roundish heads and often tip or “bob” their tails while perched. In flight, kestrels have a diagnostic flight pattern of quickly alternating between rapid wing beating and gliding. With proper lighting, their colorful plumage can further aid in positive identification. Kestrels are both sexually dimorphic and dichromatic; therefore sexing can be done at a distance and in chicks as young as three weeks (Hawk Mountain n.d.). Males are on average 10% smaller than females though this may be hard to ascertain in the field (Hawk Mountain 1997, Smallwood & Bird 2002). Males are more colorful, with bluish- gray wings (with or without black barring) and rufous (reddish-brown) tails. A single black bar tipped in white extends across the terminal end of the largely unmarked tail. Females are rufous on their wings and tails, often with multiple black bars extending horizontally along the length (Hawk Male American Kestrel Mountain n.d.). Plumage is highly variable © Jim Gilbert among individuals (Smallwood & Bird 2002). Both sexes exhibit grayish crowns and rufous crown patches with two vertical black stripes down their white cheeks. Black “eyespots on the back of their heads are thought to aid in reducing predation on kestrels by larger birds of prey- giving the illusion of predator awareness.
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Wildlife of the North Hills: Birds, Animals, Butterflies
Wildlife of the North Hills: Birds, Animals, Butterflies Oakland, California 2005 About this Booklet The idea for this booklet grew out of a suggestion from Anne Seasons, President of the North Hills Phoenix Association, that I compile pictures of local birds in a form that could be made available to residents of the north hills. I expanded on that idea to include other local wildlife. For purposes of this booklet, the “North Hills” is defined as that area on the Berkeley/Oakland border bounded by Claremont Avenue on the north, Tunnel Road on the south, Grizzly Peak Blvd. on the east, and Domingo Avenue on the west. The species shown here are observed, heard or tracked with some regularity in this area. The lists are not a complete record of species found: more than 50 additional bird species have been observed here, smaller rodents were included without visual verification, and the compiler lacks the training to identify reptiles, bats or additional butterflies. We would like to include additional species: advice from local experts is welcome and will speed the process. A few of the species listed fall into the category of pests; but most - whether resident or visitor - are desirable additions to the neighborhood. We hope you will enjoy using this booklet to identify the wildlife you see around you. Kay Loughman November 2005 2 Contents Birds Turkey Vulture Bewick’s Wren Red-tailed Hawk Wrentit American Kestrel Ruby-crowned Kinglet California Quail American Robin Mourning Dove Hermit thrush Rock Pigeon Northern Mockingbird Band-tailed
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Nest Success of Southeastern American Kestrels Associated with Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers in Old-Growth Longleaf Pine Habitat in Northwest Florida
2004SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST 3(2):191–204 Nest Success of Southeastern American Kestrels Associated with Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers in Old-Growth Longleaf Pine Habitat in Northwest Florida 1,* 2 1,3 KATHLEEN E. GAULT , JEFFREY R. WALTERS , JOSEPH TOMCHO, JR. , 1,4 1,5 LOUIS F. PHILLIPS, JR. , AND ANDREW BUTLER Abstract - The Southeastern American Kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus), a non-migratory subspecies of the widespread American Kestrel, has declined to the point that it is listed as threatened in Florida, the state in which it is most common. We studied the nesting biology of Southeastern American Kestrels in 1999 and 2000 at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, in old-growth longleaf pine sa- vanna, a habitat type historically widely occupied by the kestrels. Most of the nest cavities we observed were in old-growth trees, both living and dead, and were originally excavated by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) and then enlarged by other woodpecker species. Nesting success was 70% in 1999 and 56% in 2000. In 1999, 67% of eggs survived to become fledglings in successful nests, as did 58% in 2000. Nests in live pines and snags were equally successful, and nest success was positively related to cavity height in 1999. Reduced nesting success in 2000 may have been related to severe drought conditions. High nesting concentrations of up to 4 pairs per km2 were observed. We suggest that stands of old-growth longleaf pine, with little or no hardwood midstory and a relatively high number of snags, inhabited by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, may constitute high quality habitat for Southeastern American Kestrels.
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Unusual Predatory and Caching Behavior of American Kestrels in Central Missouri
UNUSUAL PREDATORY AND CACHING BEHAVIOR OF AMERICAN KESTRELS IN CENTRAL MISSOURI BRIAN TOLAND ABSTRACT- Caching behavior of the AmericanKestrel (Falco sparver/us) was studied 1981-1983 in BooneCounty, Missouri.Both wild prey and quarry thrown from car windowswere cached.Kestrels cached food 116 timesand retrievedit 77.5%of thetime. Males cached food in elevatedsites (at least 4 m high)64% of thetime while females did so only20%. During spring and summer, 93% of the preyitems were cached uneaten. During fall andwinter, only 42% of the foodcached was uneaten. When a surplusof preywas created by releasingseveral mice at a time,kestrels killed them whileflying to theircache sites. These prey items were stored in the samecache site. Apparently, caching behavior of AmericanKestrels is not directlycorrelated with the lengthof time betweenfeedings, and cachingbehavior operates independentlyof fooddeprivation, especially in springand summer. Many reptorshave been observed caching prey. cache,weather conditions, time of day, and durationof caching Mueller(1974) provided a reviewof foodstoring in sequence.Additional live prey was thrown from my carwindow to kestrelsperched within 25 m of roads.The prey thrown were severalcaptive species.Among the falconiforms, brown,gray, white and blackHouse Mouse (Mus musculus) and preycaching seems to be mostdeveloped and wide- HouseSparrows (Passer domesticus) with several primaries pulled to spreadin falcons.Published records of cachingin- ensuretheir captureby kestrels. clude those for the Merlin (Falco columbarius) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Greaves1968; Oliphant and Thompson 1976; Pitcheret al. 1982),American Kestrel (F. sparverius) During the 2 yr study 1210 h of observationof (Pierce 1937; Tordoff 1955; Roest 1957; Stendell kestrels were made and 30 kestrels were seen cach- and Waian 1968; Balgooyen1976; Collopy1977), ing prey a total of 116 times.
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American Kestrel: Falco Sparverius, EC 1578 (Oregon State University Extension Service)
Archival copy. For current version, see: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ec1578 EC 1578 • December 2005 $1.00 American Kestrel Falco sparverius by J. Jones and S. Sells id you know that the American easy to attract them to your area. Kestrels kestrel is the smallest falcon in live near open fi elds and meadows. They D North America and the second hunt in open areas and fi nd shelter in smallest falcon in the world? The aver- nearby trees. They are found throughout age length of the American kestrel is 9 to North, South, and Central America. 12 inches, about the size of a robin. Kestrels have some interesting antics A falcon is a bird of prey, or raptor, that make them easy to identify. Look for which in Latin means “to seize.” Raptors kestrels on telephone wires along open have very good eyesight, a hooked beak, fi elds. If a robin-size bird is bobbing its and eight very sharp talons, all of which head and pumping its tail, it might be help them hunt and catch their prey. a kestrel. Their calls sound like a shrill Kestrels are one of the most abundant “killy killy killy.” raptors in North America, so it should be Photo: Noah Strycker Photo: Pete Albers, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Photo: Pete Albers, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research American kestrels like to perch on fence A nest box can provide a home for kestrels if tree posts or tree limbs while searching for cavities aren’t available. prey. Jenelle Jones and Sarah Sells, students in Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University.
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American Kestrel Mountain Region
United States Department of Agriculture Conservation Assessment Forest Service Rocky for the American Kestrel Mountain Region Black Hills in the Black Hills National National Forest Custer, Forest, South Dakota and South Dakota December 2002 Wyoming Aran S. Johnson and Stanley H. Anderson Conservation Assessment for the American Kestrel in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota and Wyoming. Aran S. Johnson and Stanley H. Anderson Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Wyoming P.O. Box 3166 Laramie, Wyoming 82071 Aran S. Johnson is a Research Scientist in the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Wyoming. He received his B.Sc. in 1995 at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and his M.Sc. in 2001 at the University of Wyoming. His master’s project investigated logging effects on riparian and upland songbird species. Raptor projects that Aran has been involved with have included studies on Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, Northern Goshawks, Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks and Burrowing Owls. Stanley H. Anderson is the leader of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. He received his Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 1970 and his B.Sc. from the University of Redlands in 1961. During his career at Kenyon College, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Patuxent Research Center and the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit he has worked extensively on wildlife habitat, publishing as author or co-author more than 230 scientific articles. Stan has done extensive work on raptors throughout the United States, South America, and Australia. He has worked with nearly 100 graduate students at the Coop and presented courses in ornithology and wildlife management.
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Raptors in New Hampshire Orchards
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Hickey Creek Mitigation Park Land Management Plan - Third Edition 17980 Palm Beach Blvd
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Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge Draft Visitor Services Plan and Environmental Assessment
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American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius)
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Raptor Adaptation Discovery Kit Cooper's Hawk
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