American kestrel

The smallest of falcons in the entirety of America, but you would be mistaken to take this bird lightly

Vince Maidens

The American kestrel is North America’s smallest and most common falcon. Unlike many other raptors, the males and females of this species are distinguished by plumage rather than size. Males have white undersides with black barring and blue-grey wings with black dots. The bottom portion of their back is rufous, with barring.

White with black markings on the belly and flanks. The tail is likewise rufous, with a black subterminal band and a white or rufous tip. The female American kestrel’s back and wings are rufous with dark brown barring. The females’ undersides are creamy to buff with dark brown striping. The hue of their tail is rufous, with several slender dark black stripes.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Anguilla
2016
Antigua & Barbuda
2016
Argentina
2016
Aruba
2016
Bahamas
2016
Barbados
2016
Belize
2016
Non-Breeding
Bermuda
2016
Bolivia
2016
Bonaire Sint Eustatius And Saba
2016
Saba, Sint Eustatius
Brazil
2016
British Virgin Is.
2016
Canada
2016
Cayman Islands
2016
Chile
2016
Colombia
2016
Costa Rica
2016
Non-Breeding
Cuba
2016
Denmark
2016
Vagrant
Dominica
2016
Dominican Republic
2016
Ecuador
2016
El Salvador
2016
Estonia
2016
Vagrant
Falkland Islands
2016
Malvinas
French Guiana
2016
Grenada
2016
Breeding
Guadeloupe
2016
Guatemala
2016
Guyana
2016
Haiti
2016
Honduras
2016
Jamaica
2016
Breeding
Malta
2016
Vagrant
Martinique
2016
Mexico
2016
Montserrat
2016
Nicaragua
2016
Panama
2016
Paraguay
2016
Peru
2016
Portugal
2016
Vagrant
Puerto Rico
2016
Saint Barthélemy
2016
Seasonality Uncertain
Saint Lucia
2016
Saint Martin
2016
French Part
Saint Pierre
2016
Saint Vincent
2016
Sint Maarten
2016
Dutch Part
South Georgia
2016
St. Kitts & Nevis
2016
Trinidad & Tobago
2016
Turks & Caicos
2016
US Minor Is.
2016
Seasonality Uncertain
US Virgin Islands
2016
United Kingdom
2016
Vagrant
United States
2016
Breeding
Uruguay
2016
Breeding
Venezuela
2016

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No