Male American Kestrel in flight
Credit: Greg Schneider

North American field guide

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Also known as:Sparrow Hawk

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Identification

Field notes

23-30 cm (9-12") Common and widespread. Open country, farmlands, urban areas, parks, dead trees, wires.

Our smallest falcon - jay size. Easily identified by its small size, bright rusty back and tail and double black stripes or "sideburns" down each side of face. Male's wings are blue-gray, female's are brown.

In flight; hovers while seeking insects, small mammals, birds, and reptiles then dives to catch prey.

Song: sharp "killy-killy-killy".

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Approximate reconstruction of a historical map. Source date unknown.

Geography: Natural Earth
Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 5 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

American Kestrel

1 rule
Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 7
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?
Pointed · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?
Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Hawk-like
result:378-american-kestrel:1:1 Source: 378 American Kestrel, row 1

American Kestrel (Female)

2 rules
Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 7
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
While landed
What colour were the WINGS ?
Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
What colour was the TAIL ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Hawk-like
result:378-american-kestrel:3:1 Source: 378 American Kestrel, row 3
Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 7
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
While landed
What colour were the WINGS ?
Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Hawk-like
result:378-american-kestrel:4:1 Source: 378 American Kestrel, row 4

American Kestrel (Male)

2 rules
Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 7
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
While landed
What colour were the WINGS ?
Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark
What colour was the TAIL ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Hawk-like
result:378-american-kestrel:2:1 Source: 378 American Kestrel, row 2
Rule 2 11 criteria confidence 7
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?
While landed
What colour were the WINGS ?
Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Uniform color · Spotted or mottled · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Hawk-like
result:378-american-kestrel:4:2 Source: 378 American Kestrel, row 4