Falco sparverius
The American Kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in the Rockies, and it is frequently seen hovering, beating its wing into a blur, while looking for prey. A kestrel perched on a telephone wire above a roadside and open field is a familiar summer sight. Despite its robin-like size, this fierce predator routinely captures small rodents and birds, although large insects tend to make up the majority of its summer diet. The American Kestrel's scientific name, sparverius, is Latin for 'pertaining to sparrows,' even though sparrows are only an occasional prey item. Old field guides and old-time birders refer to this small falcon as the Sparrow Hawk. |
I.D.: General: small falcon; 2 distinctive facial stripes. Male: rusty back; blue-gray wings; blue-gray crown with a rusty cap; lightly spotted underparts. Female: rusty back and wings. In flight: frequently hovers; long, rusty tail. Size: L 71/2-8 in. (19-20 cm); W 20-24 in. (51-61 cm). Range: common summer breeder throughout the Rockies; uncommon to common winter visitor in the U.S. Rockies. Habitat: open fields, forests, forest edges, grasslands, roadsides and agricultural areas with hunting perches. Nesting: in a natural cavity or an abandoned woodpecker cavity (usually a flicker's); occasionally uses an old magpie or crow nest; eggs are incubated for 29-30 days. Feeding: swoops from a perch (often a power line or utility pole) or a hovering position; mainly eats insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies and beetles; also eats mice, small birds, reptiles and amphibians. Voice: a loud, often repeated, shrill killy-killy-killy when excited; female's voice is lower pitched. Similar Species: Merlin: lacks the distinctive facial stripes; far less common; does not hover. Sharp-shinned Hawk: short, rounded wings; flap-and-glide flight. |
