Identification

Male (Northern)

The male American Kestrel is a boldly marked, colorful falcon. Two vertical black stripes frame its white face, and a thick black subterminal bar marks the end of its russet tail. In between, blue-gray wing coverts separate a rufous-brown back and dark primary feathers.

Female (Northern)

Black stripes frame the face of female kestrels, too, but their wings lack the male’s blue-gray color. Their wing coverts are rufous-brown and finely barred, like the back. The tail, visible in this picture beneath the dark wing tips, is barred as well.

Flight Identification

The slender American Kestrel is roughly the size and shape of a Mourning Dove, although it has a larger head; longer, narrow wings; and long, square-tipped tail. In flight, the wings are often bent and the wingtips swept back, forming that typical Falcon V shape.

Flight patterns will typically consist of a quick, rapid wing beats followed by glides. While hunting, they can be seen hovering mid air over a field before diving steeply to catch their prey.

On power lines and fences, the head bobbing and tail flicking behaviors are indicators of this species.

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