American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

10/6/02 English Road, Imperial Wildlife Area, Salton Sea, Imperial County, CA

12/11/10 Lake Elsinore (off of the levee), Riverside County, CA

9/1/08 Near the grape vines on the back of our property, La Cresta, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA

10/9/06 Pair on an Englemann Oak tree above our orchard. La Cresta, Murrieta, Riverside County, CA

10/9/06 

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: American Kestrel

SPECIES: Falco sparverius

FAMILY: Falconidae (Falcons)

LIFE LIST DATE: 10/6/2002

LOCATION: Perched on dead tree off of English Road near ag fields. Imperial Wildlife Area, Salton Sea, Imperial County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds-Western Region & Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: Our smallest falcon is common and widespread. In most regions, it is seen far more often than the other falcons. Favors open country, farms, fields, deserts, sometimes towns. Typically seen perched on wires along roadsides. When hunting, often hovers in one spot on rapidly beating wings. Feeds mostly on large insects but also takes rodents, small birds, etc. Nests in holes in trees (or holes in giant cactus in southwest), or will use large birdhouses. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 9"; In flight: small colorful falcon; long tail; thin sickle-shaped wings. Male: blue-gray wings; reddish brown tail with broad black tip. A line of translucent spots is visible along the trailing edge of wings. Female: wings, back and tail reddish-brown; thin dark brown bars on tail. Spots along trailing edge of wings less conspicuous. Perched: two black sideburns on each side of face. Male has blue-gray wings; female has lightly barred brown wings. 

VOICE: Most common call is a series of sharp staccato notes like klee klee klee given during disturbances in the nest.