American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Order: Falconiformes

Family: Falconidae (Falcons)

Female at nesthole

Photo, E.T. Jones, Copyright ©1998 The Provincial Museum of Alberta - Use for Profit requires fee.

Identification:

  • 23 - 30 cm long with a 50 - 62 cm wingspread. The smallest and most colourful of our Falcons.
  • Both sexes have 2 vertical black stripes below the eyes, a white face and throat, and a rust-coloured tail and back.
  • Sexes similar except males have bluish-grey wings. Females are larger with brown wings.
  • Wings are characteristically pointed in flight.
  • Often seen sitting erect on poles or wires, frequently raising and lowering its tail.
  • Formerly known as the "Sparrow Hawk".
 

Distribution:

The American Kestrel breeds across most of North America, from Alaska and the Northwest Territories, to Nova Scotia in the east. They breed across open country, farmlands and parkland regions across most of Manitoba, as far north as Churchill. They are residents across most of the U.S. and Mexico. Most of Manitoba's birds migrate to the southern U.S. for the winter.

Manitoba Museum Collections:

The Manitoba Museum holds 13 skins, 1 skeleton and 1 egg specimen of the American Kestrel, collected within the province of Manitoba. The Museum also has 25 nesting records from around the province, dating back to 1929. These records describe breeding events from as early as March 12, when a pair was observed arriving at their nest site, to July 29, when 2 young were observed atop a dead poplar tree. Regions in Manitoba where nesting activity has been documented are indicated on the accompanying map.
Breeding:

American Kestrels usually return to Manitoba around the 1st week of April to commence their breeding season. They prefer to nest in natural or man-made cavities, such as abandoned Flicker holes, holes in cliffs, in walls or under gables of buildings, or in nest boxes. They do not construct a nest, rather they merely use what is already available in the nesting cavity. The female usually lays 4 - 5 creamy white or pinkish eggs, blotched in reddish-brown. She incubates for 29 - 30 days while the male provides her with food. The helpless young are closely tended by the female, with the male continuing to provide food. As the young age, both adults begin to hunt. After about 20 days, the young can feed themselves, and leave the nest after about 30 days.

Manitoba Status Rank and Conservation Issues:

Secure - Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, 1996 report.
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