North America's smallest and most colorful falcon — and despite its "least concern" listing, populations have crashed 50% since the 1960s. Researchers are still pinning down exactly why.

Also called: Sparrow Hawk (older name; misleading)

Native status: Native; declining

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 22–31 cm (8.7–12 in); wingspan 51–61 cm
Weight80–165 g (3–5.8 oz)
LifespanWild typically 5 years; oldest documented 11
OrderFalconiformes
FamilyFalconidae

§ Encyclopedia

The American kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. Though it has been called the American sparrowhawk, this common name is a misnomer; the American kestrel is a true falcon, while neither the Eurasian sparrowhawk nor the other species called sparrowhawks are in the Falconidae family, hence only very distantly related to the American kestrel. It has a roughly two-to-one range in size over subspecies and sex, varying in size from about the weight of a blue jay to a mourning dove. It also ranges to South America and is a well-established species that has evolved into 17 subspecies adapted to different environments and habitats throughout the Americas. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Its plumage is colorful and attractive, and juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

Source: Wikipedia — American kestrel Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small slender falcon. Males: blue-gray wings, rusty back and tail with black band, black "moustache" and "sideburns" on face. Females: rusty wings and back, banded tail.

Similar species. Merlin (no rust, larger). Sharp-shinned Hawk (different shape). Other small falcons (different ranges).

Voice. Loud "killy-killy-killy" calls.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Insects (especially grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies), small mammals (voles, mice), small birds, lizards.

Behavior. Smallest US falcon. Hovers in place over fields by facing into wind — only US raptor that regularly hunts this way. Populations declining ~50% since 1966; causes incompletely understood (West Nile virus, pesticides, prey decline, cavity-nest competition with European Starlings). Readily uses nest boxes — one of the few cavity-nesting raptors. Distinctive ability to see UV light reflected from vole urine trails in open fields.

§ Range

Throughout North America from Alaska to Mexico

§ Habitat

Open country: meadows, agricultural fields, deserts, parks

§ Threats

Pesticide-driven insect and small-mammal declines, habitat loss to development, lack of nest cavities.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the american kestrel is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Mount a kestrel nest box on a tall post in open country. Skip rodenticides. Support American Kestrel Partnership monitoring.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • American Kestrel Partnership
  • The Peregrine Fund
  • IUCN Red List 2018