Females are rusty overall with black barring on the wings and back. They have two black slashes on their face and a gray crown.
Do kestrels mate for life?
Kestrels typically are monogamous and some pairs remain together across years. In sedentary populations, kestrels often remain at the nest site for the entire year. In migratory populations, males return to the breeding grounds first and when females arrive they associate with territorial males.
What does a male kestrel look like?
Identifying Male Kestrels Males have blue-gray wing coverts (upper wings), a rufous-brown back, and black primary feathers. The outer tail feathers (sometimes the outer few) may have multiple bands, and when folded can look completely banded underneath.
Are female kestrels bigger than males?
As with most other birds of prey, the female kestrel is larger and heavier than the male. However, with their small size and generally slender bodies, the size dimorphism is not readily apparent unless the pair is viewed right next to each other.
What is the difference between a male and female kestrel?
Males have slate-blue wings; females' wings are reddish brown. Both sexes have pairs of black vertical slashes on the sides of their pale faces—sometimes called a “mustache” and a “sideburn." American Kestrels usually snatch their victims from the ground, though some catch quarry on the wing.
What are baby American kestrels called?
klee
Is a kestrel a hawk or falcon?
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. Kestrels are conspicuous, colorful, open-habitat birds of prey about the size of a Mourning Dove.