Birds Active during the day

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

North America’s smallest falcon is a colorful, high-speed hunter known for its ability to hover in place while tracking prey. With its bold facial stripes and acrobatic flight, the American Kestrel is a spectacular addition to any backyard camera gallery.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 22-31 cm (9-12 in); Wingspan: 51-61 cm (20-24 in); Weight: 80-165 g (2.8-5.8 oz)

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Colors

Males have blue-grey wings and a rufous back; females are rufous with heavy dark barring. Both have white faces with two vertical black 'mustache' stripes.

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Key Features

Two vertical black facial stripes (malar and auricular)
Rufous back and tail with black terminal band
Frequent tail-bobbing when perched
Pointed wings and long tail typical of falcons

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 8-11 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily large insects like grasshoppers and beetles, supplemented by small mammals (voles, mice), reptiles, and small songbirds.

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Habitat Open landscapes including grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, deserts, and suburban parks with scattered trees.

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Where Does the American Kestrel Live?

The American Kestrel is a truly Pan-American species, native to the Western Hemisphere with a range that spans from the subarctic tree line of Alaska and Canada all the way south to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. In North America, they are common throughout the United States and Mexico, appearing in nearly every state year-round or during migration. While northern populations move toward the southern US and Central America for the winter, many populations in South America and the temperate United States remain as permanent residents.

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7 Countries

25.4M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

US United States CA Canada MX Mexico BR Brazil AR Argentina CO Colombia PE Peru

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The American Kestrel is a master of the 'hover-hunt,' a specialized flight behavior where it remains stationary in mid-air by flapping its wings rapidly against the breeze. This allows the bird to keep its head perfectly still while scanning the ground for movement. Unlike many larger hawks that soar high in the sky, kestrels are perch-hunters, often seen scanning for prey from telephone wires, fence posts, or lone trees in open fields.

These falcons are highly territorial during the breeding season and are known for their vocal 'klee-klee-klee' calls. They are secondary cavity nesters, meaning they rely on existing holes in trees made by woodpeckers or man-made nesting boxes. While they are small, they are incredibly bold and will dive-bomb much larger raptors, such as Red-tailed Hawks, to drive them away from their nesting sites.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture an American Kestrel on a backyard camera, you must focus on their hunting and nesting habits. These birds are 'perch hunters,' so placing a camera on a fence post or a dedicated T-pole about 5 to 7 feet high in an open area is the most effective strategy. If you have a large property, look for a lone snag or telephone wire where they regularly sit. Position your camera about 10-12 feet away from the perch, facing away from the sun to prevent silhouette effects.

The absolute best way to get close-up, intimate footage is to install a kestrel-specific nesting box. Mount your AI camera near the entrance of the box (about 2-3 feet away) at a slight downward angle. This will allow you to capture the dramatic moments when the parents return with food for the chicks. Because kestrels are incredibly fast, set your camera to its highest possible frame rate or use a 'burst' mode. This ensures you catch the split-second of the landing or the rapid 'kiting' hover they perform just before diving.

Kestrels are visual hunters, so traditional birdseed won't work as bait. Instead, you can attract them indirectly by maintaining a 'wild' corner of your yard with taller grass, which attracts the large insects and small rodents they prey upon. Early morning and late afternoon provide the best golden-hour lighting for their colorful plumage and coincide with their peak hunting times. Ensure your PIR (motion) sensors are set to high sensitivity, as their small size may not always trigger cameras designed for larger mammals.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with American Kestrel.

Merlin

Merlins are slightly larger and darker, lacking the rufous back and the kestrel's distinct double black facial stripes.

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawks have rounded wings and lack the pointed falcon wing shape and facial mustaches of the kestrel.

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Frequently Asked Questions

American Kestrels are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. They are most frequently seen hunting in the mid-morning and late afternoon, taking advantage of peak insect activity and optimal light for spotting movement on the ground.

The best way to attract these falcons is to provide a nesting box mounted on a pole or tree at least 10-20 feet high in an open area. Additionally, keeping areas of your yard as natural meadow helps provide the grasshoppers and small rodents that make up their primary diet.

American Kestrels have a diverse diet that includes large insects like grasshoppers and dragonflies, as well as small mammals like mice and voles, small reptiles, and occasionally other small birds.

Yes, they are highly adaptable and are one of the most common raptors seen in suburbs. They are often found in parks, golf courses, and along roadsides where open space for hunting is available.

American Kestrels have bright rufous (reddish) coloring on their backs and tails and two distinct black stripes on their face. Merlins are typically darker, lack the rufous color, and do not have the bold 'mustache' facial markings.

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