American Kestrel
photo by Phil Swanson
Falco sparverius
L 10 1/2″(27 cm) W 23″(58 cm).
Song or calls:
Listen (NGPC audio)
Very vocal, with loud rapid “killy-killy-killy.”
Description: Small.
Rufous crown, back, and tail. Slate blue wings. Buff-colored breast. Black spotting on belly. Double black stripes on a white face. Female has similar head pattern, but back and wings are brown. Female has heavier streaking.
Behavior: Nests in old woodpecker holes or nest boxes near grasslands or croplands.
Habitat: Often perches on elevated sites such as telephone poles and trees in open country.
Where in Nebraska: Common statewide permanent resident. Some individuals migrate, as kestrels are less common in winter than in spring or fall. Regular breeder.
Fun Facts: Nestling Kestrels back up, raise their tails and squirt feces onto the wall fo the nest cavity!