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The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a small falcon. This bird was formerly known in North America as the Sparrow Hawk. This name was misleading because it implied a connection with the Old World Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, which is unrelated - the latter is a hawk rather than a falcon. An American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). ...
Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ...
Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ...
Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with...
Orders Many - see section below. ...
Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ...
Genera Daptrius Phalcoboenus Polyborus Milvago Herpetotheres Micrastur Spiziapteryx Polihierax Microhierax Falco The family Falconidae includes about 60 species of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. ...
Species About 37; see text. ...
In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ...
Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as , (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[1] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ...
1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...
Species About 37; see text. ...
World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ...
The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus; it includes Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia), plus surrounding islands. ...
Binomial name Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ...
The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses: Strictly, to mean any of the species in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. ...
American Kestrels are widely distributed across the Americas. Their breeding range extends from central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and south throughout North America, into central Mexico, the Baja, and the Caribbean. They are local breeders in Central America and are widely distributed throughout South America. Official language(s) English Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area Ranked 1st - Total 663,267 sq. ...
Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages None (English,French,Gaelic) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Parliamentary representation - House seat - Senate seats 11 10 Area Total • Land • Water (% of total) Ranked 12th 55,283...
Central America and the Caribbean (detailed pdf map) The Caribbean, (Spanish: Caribe; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben, or more commonly Antillen) or the West Indies, is a group of islands and countries which are in or border the Caribbean Sea which lies on...
Map of Central America Central America is a central region of the Americas. ...
South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...
Most of the birds breeding in Canada and the northern United States migrate south in the winter, although some males stay as year-round residents. // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land migratory birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere. ...
This small falcon species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ...
Description
American Kestrels are a small raptor - about the size of an American Robin - and one of the few raptors where there is a color difference between the male and female. They are the smallest falcon in North America. Binomial name Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 // Overview The American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. ...
Species About 37; see text. ...
These tiny, seemingly fearless, birds are brightly adorned with reddish, blue and cinnamon colors. Males have blue-grey wings, cinnamon back and tail, and a chestnut patch on top of the head; the breast is white with dark spots. Females have a cinnamon body color with dark streaks, chestnut wings with black bars and vertical chestnut streaks on the light tanb reast. A Laughing Gull on the beach in Atlantic City. ...
Both sexes have white cheeks with two black vertical lines, one in front of the eye and one at the ear. They have long slim pointed wings, a blue-grey cap and a long chestnut tail. Image File history File linksMetadata Male_American_Kestrel. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Male_American_Kestrel. ...
As with all raptors, the females are larger than males. However the difference is slight. The length of the birds average about 25 cm (10 inches) for females and 24 cm (nine inches) for males. Wingspans average 57 cm (22 inches) for females and 55 cm (21 inches) for males. Weights average 120 g (5 oz) for females and 111 g (3.5 oz for males. Look up raptor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
The mirror of the Roman Goddess Venus is often used to represent the female sex. ...
The shield and spear of the Roman God Mars are often used to represent the male sex In heterogamous species, male is the sex of an organism, or of a part of an organism, which typically produces smaller, mobile gametes (spermatozoa) that are able to fertilise female gametes (ova). ...
 American Kestrel on frosty telephone wire Image File history File linksMetadata American_Kestrel_on_telephone_wire. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata American_Kestrel_on_telephone_wire. ...
Habitat American Kestrels are found in a variety of habitats including parks, suburbs, open fields, forest edges and openings, alpine zones, grasslands, marshes, open areas on mountainsides, prairies, plains, deserts with giant cacti, and freeway and highway corridors. An Australian park A park is any of a number of geographic features. ...
Housing subdivision near Union, Kentucky, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. ...
Alpine may refer to: Alpine, a breed of goat. ...
An Inner Mongolian Grassland. ...
This article is about marsh, a type of wetland. ...
A prairie is an area of land of low topographic relief that principally supports grasses and herbs, with few trees, and is generally of a mesic (moderate or temperate) climate. ...
== Headline text == Plains is the name of several places in the [[United usyduisaydashdsdsjdn Plains, North Lanarkshire, Scotland There are also The Plains, Ohio; Plainsboro, New Jersey; and Plainville, Kansas You might also be looking for the geographical feature plain; or the Plains Indians. ...
Desert view in Saudi Arabia. ...
High-capacity freeway interchange in Los Angeles, California. ...
Highway in Pennsylvania, USA For other uses, see Highway (disambiguation). ...
In addition to requiring open space for hunting, American Kestrels seem to need perches for hunting from, cavities for nesting (either natural or man-made), and a sufficient food supply. A hunter on horseback shoots at deer or elk with a bow. ...
Behavior The American Kestrel is the only North American falcon to habitually hover with rapid wing beats, keeping its head motionless while scanning the ground for prey. The kestrel commonly perches along fences and powerlines. It glides with flat wings and wingtips curved upward. It occasionally soars in circles with its tail spread and its wings flat.
Several hunting techniques are used by the American Kestrel. It will hover over one spot—when prey is sighted the kestrel will partly fold its wings and drop lower once or several times before striking. When the prey disappears the falcon will glide in a semicircle before turning back into the wind to hover again. It will also soar in circles, or figure eights, using the same stooping tactics as when hovering.
The kestrel commonly hunts from elevated perch sites, waiting for prey to move on the ground. The kestrel bobs its head and pumps its tail just before attacking.
Other prey capture techniques include direct pursuit, landing and flushing prey from the ground (especially for grasshoppers)and then taking them in flight, capturing flying insects from an elevated perch, and nest robbing including the burrows of Bank Swallows and the nests of Cliff Swallows. It is also an occasional bat catcher, taking bats from their tree roosts, or striking bats in flight from above or as the bats leave or enter caves. The kestrel will kill and cache food items. Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ...
Binomial name Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758) The Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. ...
Binomial name Hirundo pyrrhonota Vieillot, 1817 The Cliff Swallow, Hirundo pyrrhonota (sometimes Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. ...
Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ...
The American Kestrel occasionally dosent rob others of the same species. It hasnt also been known to rob a shrike of its prey. Kestrels sometimes harass other hawks, and even Golden Eagles, in flight. The American Kestrel will vigorously defend its nest against other cavity nesters. Image File history File linksMetadata Male_American_Kestrel_2. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Male_American_Kestrel_2. ...
Genera Lanius Eurocephalus Corvinella A shrike is a passerine bird of the family Laniidae which is known for its habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns, so that it can tear them into smaller, more conveniently-sized fragments. ...
Binomial name Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus, 1758 The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. ...
Nesting Kestrels form pairs in which the bond is strong, tending toward permanence. Returning migrants commonly re-establish territories held the previous year. In one study, a pair nested in the same tree for six consecutive years.
Courtship begins shortly after the male establishes a territory. In early courtship, he may give the "dive display", a series of climbs and dives 33 to 66 feet (10 to 20 m) with 3-5 "klee" notes given near the peak of each climb. He may present the female with food during courtship feeding. He may entice her to the nest site by calling. He may "flutter-glide" toward her with quick and shallow wing beats while carrying food and she may also beg for food by flutter-gliding. The female initiates copulation by bowing with her tail in line with her body or slightly raised.
A cavity nester, American Kestrels will use holes in trees, rock cavities and crevices in cliffs, artificial nest boxes, or small spaces in buildings. The number of suitable breeding cavities limits this species' breeding density. The American Kestrel has adapted well to nest boxes. In one program, nest boxes were fixed to the backs of signs along a freeway thus allowing kestrels to breed in areas formerly devoid of nest sites. Pairs nesting in boxes on poles have much higher nesting success than pairs using boxes on trees. No nest is built inside. In nest boxes sawdust and wood shavings may be a suitable substrate for the eggs Building is either the act of creating an object assembled from more than one element, or the object itself; see also construction. ...
Both sexes take turns incubating their eggs, a very rare situation among North American birds of prey where the female usually incubates exclusively. Both sexes develop bare oval patches on each side of their breasts where the warm bare skin can contact the eggs for warming. Eggs hatch about 30 days after being laid. There are from three to seven eggs laid, but four to six are average. The eggs are typically short elliptical in shape, and are white or pinkish-white with an even covering of fine spots and flecks of brown shades, occasionally concentrating as a ring or a cap. They will renest if the first nest fails and have been reported to raise 2 broods per year in some of the southern states. An average Whooping Crane egg is 102 mm long, and weighs 208 grams In some animals, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ...
The word incubate in the context of birds refers to the development of the chick (embryo) within the egg and the constant temperature required for the development of it over a specific period. ...
The young grow very quickly, becoming noisy between day 11 and 14 and assuming adult weight in about 2.5 weeks. The young take their first flight between days 26 and 31. Early fledgling behavior varies. Broods typically stay together for a week or two. Some broods remain close to the nest area for a week or two while others travel throughout the parents' home range. Generally, young do not disperse more than 0.6 miles (one km) away from the nest area until two to four weeks old. Young disperse as hunting skills develop. Occasionally groups of older juveniles from various broods join together into flocks.
The American Kestrel is double-brooded, particularly in the southern United States, in areas of abundant small mammals. Replacement clutches can be laid.
The American Kestrel is not long-lived. The oldest banded wild bird was 11 years and seven months old while a captive lived 14 years. A mortality rate average of 57 percent was found. First year mortality rates have declined since 1945 with a decrease in shooting. Major causes of death include collision with traffic, illegal shooting, and predation by other raptors, including the Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Barn Owl, and Great Horned Owl. Mortality rate (the word mortality comes from mortal, which originates from Latin mors, death) is the number of deaths (from a disease or in general) per 1000 people and typically reported on an annual basis. ...
Interstate 80, a freeway in California with many lanes and heavy traffic. ...
Binomial name Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is a large hawk which breeds from western Alaska and northern Canada to Panama and the West Indies. ...
Binomial name Accipiter gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis; from OE. góshafuc goose-hawk) is a medium large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ...
Binomial name Accipiter cooperii (Bonaparte, 1828) The Coopers Hawk, Accipiter cooperii, is a medium-sized hawk. ...
Binomial name Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 The Peregrine Falcon, sometimes formerly known in North America, as Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus) is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 38-53 cm (15 to 21 inches) long. ...
Binomial name Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is an owl in the barn owl family Tytonidae. ...
{{Taxobox - | color = pink - | name = Great Horned Owl - | image = Bubo virginianus1. ...
Food In summer, kestrels feed largely on grasshoppers, dragonflies, lizards, mice, and voles. They will also eat other small birds. Wintering birds feed primarily on rodents and birds. The birds characteristically hunt along roadsides from telephone wires, fence posts, trees or other convenient perches when not actually flying in search of food. When they are flying and looking for food they frequently hover with rapid wingbeats. Families Superfamily: Tridactyloidea Cylindrachaetidae Ripipterygidae Tridactylidae Superfamily: Tetrigoidea Tetrigidae Superfamily: Eumastacoidea Chorotypidae Episactidae Eumastacidae Euschmidtiidae Mastacideidae Morabidae Proscopiidae Thericleidae Superfamily: Pneumoroidea Pneumoridae Superfamily: Pyrgomorphoidea Pyrgomorphidae Superfamily: Acridoidea Acrididae Charilaidae Dericorythidae Lathiceridae Lentulidae Lithidiidae Ommexechidae Pamphagidae Pyrgacrididae Romaleidae Tristiridae Superfamily: Tanaoceroidea Tanaoceridae Superfamily: Trigonopterygoidea Trigonopterygidae Xyronotidae Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects of...
Families Aeshnidae Austropetaliidae Cordulegastridae Corduliidae Gomphidae Libellulidae Neopetaliidae Petaluridae The dragonfly is an insect belonging to the Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera and characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. ...
Families Many, see text. ...
Feral mouse A mouse is a mammal that belongs to one of numerous species of small rodents in the genus Mus and various related genera of the family Muridæ (Old World Mice). ...
A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a shorter, hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes. ...
Families See Classification Section The order Rodentia is the most numerous of the branches on the mammal family tree. ...
 American Kestrel pair, female on left, male on right Because it feeds on both insects and vertebrates, the American Kestrel maintains fairly high population densities. It has a small breeding home range, from 1.75 to 2 square miles. Territory size has been estimated at 269 to 321 acres with much larger wintering home ranges. Image File history File linksMetadata American_Kestrel_pair. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata American_Kestrel_pair. ...
Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns. ...
Voice The American Kestrel has three basic vocalizations - the "klee" or "killy", the "whine", and the "chitter." The "klee" or "killy" is usually delivered as a rapid series - "killy, killy, killy, killy" when the kestrel is upset or excited. It is used at the apex of the dive display, during fights with other kestrels, and after unsuccessful hunting attempts.
The "whine" may last as long as one to two minutes and may be single or treble. The more intense the situation, the more likely the "whine" will move toward the treble extreme. "Whines" are given during courtship feeding and copulation. The treble whine is heard from breeding females and fledged hungry young. Treble is a term applied in music to the high or acute part of the musical system, as opposed to the bass, the lower or grave part. ...
To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...
The "chitter" is the most frequent vocalization in male - female interactions. Its volume and duration depends upon the stress or excitement of the situation. It is associated with friendly approaches and bodily contact between the sexes during breeding season. Occasionally a "chitter" follows a "whine." GEE GUY dimensions is called content. ...
Breeding has several meanings related to procreation: In animal husbandry and in horticulture the selection of stock for propagation and the act of insemination by natural or artificial means is called breeding. ...
Calling occurs throughout the day. Nestlings at two weeks can produce all three vocalizations. Female kestrels tend to have slightly lower pitched and harsher voices than males.
Conservation The American Kestrel's North American population has been estimated at 1.2 million pairs, with the Central and South American populations being as large. It is possible that the clearing of parts of North America for agriculture in the last two hundred years has caused the American kestrel population to increase. The southeastern race, Falco sparverius paulus, is in serious decline (an 82 percent decrease since the early 1940s in north central Florida) possibly due to habitat loss and loss of nest sites, and has been listed in Florida as "threatened." Threats to the species as a whole include loss of nest sites, pesticide poisoning (including dieldrin and DDT among others), and death through collisions with vehicles as well as shooting. Political highlights of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and the fourth ranked in population. ...
South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area Ranked 22nd - Total 65,794 sq. ...
External links - American Kestrel videos on the Internet Bird Collection
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