Are American kestrels rare?

The American Kestrel is the continent’s most common and widespread falcon, but populations declined by an estimated 1.39% per year between 1966 and 2017, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

Where do American kestrels live?

Where do American kestrels live? The American kestrel occurs throughout the Western Hemisphere from Alaska and Canada to southernmost South America. They are the smallest and most widespread falcons in North America. Kestrels can be found in most open habitats with adequate cavities for nesting and perches for hunting.

What eats an American Kestrel?

It can be tough being one of the smallest birds of prey. Despite their fierce lifestyle, American Kestrels end up as prey for larger birds such as Northern Goshawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Barn Owls, American Crows, and Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, as well as rat snakes, corn snakes, and even fire ants.

How do you attract American kestrels?

To attract and keep American kestrels in your area, your land management plan should support open, vegetated fields for kestrels to use as hunting grounds. Kestrels also require nesting cavities and perching locations. Adding nest boxes often makes previously unsuitable habitat suitable.

Where do kestrel’s nest?

Kestrels are adaptable in their use of nest sites, but do not build their own nests. Old or disused nests of crows and other stick nesters are often used, as are ledges on cliffs and buildings. They are also regular hole-nesters and readily accept nestboxes.

What does a kestrel eat?

Voles are by far the most important food for kestrels, although they regularly take other small mammals such as woodmice and shrews, small birds, insects and earthworms. In towns they take birds more frequently because of lower availability of small mammals.

Is a kestrel a Sparrowhawk?

Generally speaking, the best way to tell the difference between Kestrels and Sparrowhawks is their plumage. Sparrowhawks have a plumage that overall appear more greyish, whereas Kestrels have a warmer looking plumage consisting mainly of buff and browns.

How do I find a kestrel nest?

They can often be seen perched on a high tree branch or on a telephone post or wire, on the look out for prey. Kestrels nest in holes in trees or on a ledge on cliffs or buildings and simply line the hole or ledge with sticks and straw. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.

Is an American Kestrel a Sparrow hawk?

The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) was originally known in North America as the “Sparrow Hawk”. This name is misleading because it implies a connection with the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), which is unrelated. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America.