The American Kestrel, sometimes called the Sparrowhawk, is North America's smallest falcon.
Often found in fields and pastures, perched upon electrical wires, or fenceposts, they scan open fields for grasshoppers, mice or any other small prey. Kestrels are able to see the urine trails of mice due to ultraviolet sight.
The favored breeding habitat is where sparse trees or groves meet open country, which is not limited to agricultural lands and grasslands.
Usually the most sociable of falcons, males perform aerial displays and feed a female for courting interests. This proves to the female his hunting prowess and ability to provide for nestlings. It also continues to strengthen the pair bond. Females will do most of the incubating and the young fledge in about thirty days.
These falcons are cavity nesters, often using nestboxes, rock crevices, and sheltered platforms if necessary. An average of four eggs are laid, depending upon food availability at two-day intervals, then incubation begins just before the final egg is laid.
American Kestrel, Payne County, OK
They are in Oklahoma all year, and some of their breeding is quite concealed, which explains why they are not often seen in the summer, unless one of the pair is by a roadside seeking food for the female and the young.
This buoyant flier ranges throughout the Americas and is a dimorphic species (sexes differ). Their calls are quite distinctive, as "klee-klee-klee-ke-lee!," which helps to locate them.
The kestrel occasionally is prey for the Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks, but there was an incident last year with all three sitting on electrical wires, hunting. They were all interested in one mouse, to which the Red-tailed Hawk was victorious. The second mouse was taken by the Cooper's Hawk, and the kestrel was so irritated, he gave the above call, then fled the area.
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