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Smallest North American hawk, has two distinct black
facial stripes, rust-brown tail and back, slate-blue wings, black-spotted
underparts. Eats bats, rodents, insects, frogs, small reptiles, and
birds. Alternates several rapid wing beats with glides, also hovers.
Soars on thermals.
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AMERICAN
KESTREL
Falco sparverius
FALCONIFORMES
Falcons (Falconidae)
Range and Habitat
American Kestrel: Breeds from Northwest Territories and Alaska east
through Maritime Provinces and south throughout most of the continent.
Usually winters north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, and New England.
Preferred habitats include towns, cities, parks, farmlands, and open
country.
SOUND: "klee-klee-klee", "killy, killy, killy"
The American Kestrel is the most common falcon in North America. The
females arrive first on their winter range and establish their territories
in the preferred open areas. The males, arriving later are forced to
use areas with more trees.
Nestlings squirt their feces onto the walls of the nest cavity. The
feces dry on the cavity walls and stay off the nestlings.
A group of kestrels are collectively known as a " flight",
" hover", and "soar" of kestrels.
The American Kestrel can be found in many countries throughout North
American and Central America. It has also been spotted in various other
countries around the world as well. The range of this species is around
25 million kilometers.
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