North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. When a once common animal starts to become not-so-common, action needs to be taken. North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. Common Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus) vs. Common Magpie (Pica Pica) The females and juveniles can sometimes be nigh impossible, even for the most experienced observer. The American Kestrel's North American population has been estimated at 1.2 million pairs, with the Central and South American populations being as large. In at least some regions in North America, the American Kestrel was becoming less common. The American kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. In open country it is commonly seen perched on roadside wires, or hovering low over a field on rapidly beating wings, waiting to pounce on a grasshopper. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male’s slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. The lesser kestrel (F. naumanni), which much resembles a small common kestrel with no black on the upperside except wing and tail tips, is probably not very closely related to the present species, and the American kestrel (F. sparverius) is apparently not a true kestrel at all. ), which is consistent with a presumed spread of kestrels from Europe to Asia to Australia. North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. Tiercel American Kestrel, photo by Craig Golden INTRODUCTION As falconers, we tend to develop opinions of the sport and our peers based on events and situations encountered in daily life. If you've observed a small raptor perched on a telephone wire or hovering over a sparse patch of highway median, then you’ve probably seen one of the most widespread falcons in North America—the American kestrel (Falco sparverius). ... is rarely seen in the northwest Piedmont. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni / Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. American Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called ‘the Kestrel’. American Kestrel - Falco sparverius The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), sometimes colloquially known as the Sparrow Hawk, is a small falcon, and the only kestrel found in the Americas. Kestrels are conspicuous, colorful, open-habitat birds of prey about the size of a Mourning Dove. The American kestrel is usually found in close proximity to open fields, either perched on a snag or telephone wire or hovering in search of prey. The Common Kestrel or European Kestrel can be found across Europe, Asia and Africa and sometimes even reaches the east coast of North America. What they … An American kestrel is the smallest and most colorful falcon in North America and is one of the best known, most frequently observed, and readily identifiable raptors in North America. Our smallest falcon, the kestrel is also the most familiar and widespread in North America. ratchet) is given to several members of the falcon genus, Falco.Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (35–65 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. It is possible that the clearing of parts of North America for agriculture in the last two hundred years has caused the American kestrel population to … op cit. The Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel or Old World Kestrel.