Day 179: American Kestrel

The American Kestrel is the smallest, most numerous, and most widespread North American falcon. They are sexually dimorphic in size and plumage; the male American Kestrel has blue-gray wings and a rufous tail with a single black band, while the wings and tail of the female are reddish with black bars across their lengths. Females are also larger than males. The photos below are of a male bird.

The American Kestrel hunts by hovering in the air with quick wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for grasshoppers and small mammals/birds.