Out of nowhere the normal sounds of buzzing insects and chirping birds were shattered by a sudden high pitched Kak - Kak- Kak- Kak- Kak. Then the meadow went silent except for the rustle of leaves and grasses blown by the hot summer breeze. Off to my left and up several yards, I watched a kestrel hovering briefly in the pale blue sky before plummeting down to earth. As soon as it had disappeared among the dry weedy vegetation, several small birds flew up and scattered in all directions. For a moment an eerie stillness seemed to blow toward me on the hot wind. It was as if the field had bent under the weight of an invisible surfer riding the grass like a wave. The kestrel remained grounded for what seemed like an eternity. I mentally marked the spot where it went down and began a careful stalk in that direction. As I neared a wild rose tangle, I brought my binoculars to readiness. What species of small bird had fallen victim to this mighty little hunter? Once my focus was adjusted I could clearly see the tiny raptor dining on a rather large grasshopper.

The American Kestrel, (Falco sparverius) was once commonly called a sparrow hawk. In truth it is not a hawk, but North America’s smallest falcon. Falcons are in the family Falconidae, order of Falconiformes. Falcons, are accipitors, or birds that eat other birds. The word falcon comes from the Latin - falx, (meaning sickle) in reference to the hooked beak and talons. Unlike hawks, who hunt by soaring on hot thermal air currents or perching until they locate prey, falcon wings are more suited to speed and maneuverability. This allows them to catch birds in flight. Kestrels usually hunt by spotting prey on the ground from a perch, then flying over, hovering briefly, and dropping down on top of them. Their hovering ability is dependent on a good breeze, since they must equal the speed of the wind in order to hover.

It is interesting to note that a study done some years ago through Cornell University, indicated that falcons expended about 43 to 49 calories of energy for every 1000 calories of nutritional prey benefit brought back to the nest. Hawks usually dispatch their prey by piercing and crushing with talons, while falcons utilize a notch on their beaks to break the necks of their victims. Kestrels are very attractive little falcons, ounce for ounce having as much spirit as their larger cousins. Adult kestrels stand about 5 or 6 inches tall. Sexes can be easily distinguished by the physical differences in wing coloration. The males have a bluish gray wings where the females have mainly reddish brown wings. Both sexes assist with incubation and rearing of the young. In addition, the male will feed the fledglings of the first brood as well as the female while she is incubating. Once bonds are made, kestrels remain monogamous. They fabricate crude sparse nests in a tree cavity or nest box and have an average of 3-7 white to pinkish 1.4 inch eggs. Sometimes the eggs are marked with brown or lavender. Incubation takes from 29-31 days. The semi-altricial hatchlings are first fed insects and later mice. Adults eat insects, small rodents, small birds and small reptiles. The young begin to fly about 30 days after hatching.

Another interesting trait about kestrels is, during times of abundance they will occasionally cache food in small grass tufts for a day or so. I recall someone calling me to report seeing baby Peregrine Falcons sitting on their telephone wires. They misidentified kestrels in their field guide. In my opinion they are as handsome as Peregrines. They have that same proud majestic look compacted into those tiny little features. When you look at a kestrel, it is obvious to see that great things do come in small packages.

© Copyright 2000 Messinger Woods Wildlife Care & Education Center, Inc.

This species profile is copyrighted and may only be reprinted with the express permission of Messinger Woods Wildlife Care & Education Center, Inc.