Kestrel

05-17-2008, 06:09 PM

Trouble in paradise! Most of the time, our yard is alive with bird song. When it suddenly goes totally quiet, you know this guy is in 'da house! Isn't he a beauty though?

05-17-2008, 06:53 PM

Amazing! A real beauty!

05-17-2008, 07:57 PM

Wow! What a great picture! I need to get my bird feeders set back up so the "Outside Birdies" will come back.

05-18-2008, 02:28 AM

That's what happens when you set up bird feeders- They provide a nice supply of food for not only the intended 'customers', but also the local raptors!

Kestrels are beautiful birds for sure- And great at controlling the local rodent population! Though I am sure the birds in the area are probably a bit upset that he came to visit...

-Andrew

05-18-2008, 08:18 AM

wow, so majestic

05-18-2008, 11:04 AM

Thanks, everybody! Its true, when you concentrate the local population, you create opportunity for predators as well. I've been watching closely though, and haven't seen him get lucky yet. The little birds seem remarkably vigilant. I saw him land on the tip of a fir tree last evening, probably 75 to 100 yards away, and there was immediate silence, and nobody moved until he left. Of course, I'm sure he's got a family to feed as well.

05-18-2008, 12:09 PM

Just keep on with the photography - sounds like you need a photo hut/blind or something to round out your kit.

We called them Sparrow Hawks [American Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ~ The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a small falcon. ..... colloquially known in North America as the "Sparrow Hawk".]- a few of them at the farm, along with the Red Tail.

Quote:

Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The American Kestrel is the only New World species termed "kestrel". Actually, the molecular data of Groombridge et al. (2002), as well as morphological peculiarities (like grey wings in males and a black ear-spot) and biogeography, strongly support the view that this species, among the Falco falcons, is not a kestrel at all in the phylogenetic sense but perhaps closer to the hobbies.

Hobbies - now there's a group I had no idea existed.

Quote:

Hobby (bird) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A hobby is a fairly small, very swift falcon with long, narrow wings. There are four birds called hobby, and some others which, although termed falcon, are very similar. All specialise in being superb aerialists. Although they will take prey on the ground if the opportunity presents itself, most prey is caught on the wing: insects by hawking, birds are flown down: even swifts and swallows often cannot outpace or outmanoeuver a hobby. .....

Quote:

American Kestrel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America—about the size of an American Robin. Like all raptors, the American Kestrel is sexually dimorphic, although there is some overlap within the species. The female ranges in length from 23 to 28 centimeters (9-11 inches) with a wingspan of 53–61 centimeters (21–24 inches) and weighs an average of 120 grams (4.2 ounces). The length of the male varies between 20–25 centimeters (8–10 inches) with a wingspan ranging from 51–56 centimeters (20–22 inches) and weighing an average of 111 grams (3.9 ounces). These subtle differences are often difficult to discern in the field.
.....
male

05-19-2008, 06:14 AM

Such beauty, mothers way way of keeping all in check.
A very majestic little rap tor.
Very deadly also.

05-20-2008, 06:54 AM

When I lived in Iran, I was brought a baby kestrel. Right away he thought I was his mother, and wanted to sleep close to me every night. I loved that bird so much. Not that different from the macaws. He would get very angry and punish me if I was away too much. They are very loving, actually.

05-20-2008, 07:52 AM

This thread got me thinking...

I don't know how many of you love to read, but I have this book called My Side of the Mountain. It's about a boy who runs to the wilderness & gets a falcon to help him catch food. (She's a peregrine.) Well, the author grew up with all sorts of wildlife in the house because of her father's being a naturalist.