Tag: kestrel

bird of the day: lesser kestrel

the lesser kestrel is a small falcon native to europe and asia, wintering in africa.

lesser kestrels mainly feed off of insects, and tend to live where grasshopper and locust populations thrive. in the past, pesticides have impacted the kestrels due to their diet. they also feed on small birds, rodents, and reptiles.

lesser kestrels live in cliff faces, hollows, and other preexisting cavities. in suburban environments they frequently nest in dilapidated buildings.

one of the smallest kestrels, the lesser kestrel is frequently mistaken for the common kestrel. this could benefit the lesser kestrel, as it may cause predators to avoid the smaller bird out of association.

despite being affected by some habitat loss and pesticide use, the lesser kestrel is currently rated least concern by the iucn.

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bird of the day: american kestrel

the american kestrel is a small falcon native to the americas. the american kestrel is both the smallest and the most common falcon in north america.

american kestrels are sexually dimorphic, and while the male and female’s plumage has lots of similarities, they can be distinguished fairly easily. like most falcons, the females are significantly larger than the males, typically by 10-15%. the male has a blue-gray color on the back and wings, where the female has brownish-red.

due to their wide range, the american kestrel varies quite a bit. it has many subspecies, and the coloration and size of these subspecies can be very different, though all are still recognizable as american kestrels.

kestrels typically hunt in an energy-conserving method – they find a perch and watch for prey to come by. kestrels feed off of large insects like grasshoppers, small rodents, birds, and reptiles.

kestrels typically nest in tree holes (sometimes ones previously used by other large birds), cliff outcroppings, and other protected nesting spots. in urban areas, they will nest on or in buildings. kestrels will also readily accept human-made nest boxes. females lay 3-7 eggs, which both parents incubate.

although the american kestrel is rated ‘least concern’ by the iucn, their population is unfortunately showing steady declines.

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