American Kestrel
Formerly called the Sparrow Hawk, the American Kestrel eats insects and small rodents. They are cavity nesters and will nest in man made boxes.
Range: American Kestrels are widely distributed across the Americas Northern populations are migrant, some moving as far south as Central America. The Kestrel breeds from Alaska and Northwest Territories east to Maritime Provinces, and south throughout continent. They winter north to British Columbia, Great Lakes and New England. Their breeding range extends from central and western Alaska through northern Canada to Nova Scotia and south throughout North America, into central Mexico, the Baja, and the Caribbean. They are la breeding species in Central America and are widely distributed throughout South America.
Food: A beneficial bird to have around, the American Kestrel consumes rodents, insects, birds, lizards and snakes. They have tominal tooth in beak, meaning an extra notch. A kestrel’s summer diet is largely comprised of insects, particularly grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetles, and crickets. The birds can take their prey while in flying, but they make most of their larger kills on the ground. In winter, they are mainly dependent on small birds and mammals. Kestrels are also known to feed on lizards, carrion, amphibians, bats, earth-worms, and spiders, endeavoring daily to consume the 20 to 25 percent of their body weight they need to endure
Habitat: Lives in towns and cities, parks, farmlands, along highways and in open land. Kestrels prefer open country, mountains, moors or grasslands. Nesting: American Kestrels is cavity nest dwelling species and will nest in man made houses. They often make use of abandoned woodpecker holes. 4-6 eggs are laid and the females do most of the incubating, while the male incubates eggs for male-4 hours per day. Incubation lasts about 29-30 days. Both male and female have brood patches. Nestling first flight usually occurs between 28-31 days. Nest boxes can be placed in open areas as well as woodland edges, and mounted on posts or trees. Nest boxes should be faced eastward and in an open area. Mount boxes 15 to 30 feet above the ground. Provide two or three inches of wood shavings in the box each year before the nesting season.
Further Projects to Attract Kestrels
Add Perches to open areas: Fields without trees or other natural roosts leave kestrels without a base to view their hunting grounds. Although they will hunt by hovering when air current conditions are correct, establishing artificial perches in clear areas increases the odds they will prefer your field or clearing for hunting their prey. One plan for building perches is to install a 1/2-inch-diameter PVC pipe, 12 to 15 feet in length, erect in the ground. A foot-long piece of pvc pipe should be added on to the top of the longer piece to form a “T-shaped” perch for the birds.
Shop for American Kestrel Houses at American Kesteral Bird House.