Status

The Kestrel is a summer migrant to Newfoundland.

  Habitat 

Prefers open country - fields, meadows, prairies, land clearings, etc.

  Range 

Central Alaska and much of forested Canada south through North/Central/South America.

  Food

Carnivorous bird - prefers large insects such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, caterpillars and crickets, as well as mice, voles and sparrow-sized birds; will occasionally feed on reptiles and amphibians.

Use of chemicals for agricultural purposes, which causes thinning egg shells, has probably been one of the most serious threats facing the kestrel.

Approximately 11.5 years.

  Appearance

The kestrel is the only Canadian hawk of small size with a lot of red in its tail and upper body and conspicuous black face markings. The male has a bluish head (top) with reddish-brown patch on its crown. The face has a narrow black patch from the front of the eye down along side of the throat and another down across the ear. Its back is reddish, barred with black. The breast and belly are white to buff, with a large black spot. Females resemble males with the exception of a duller tail, back and wings, which are heavily barred with black. The breast and belly are striped with brown.

  Breeding Biology

Kestrel nest in natural cavities, woodpecker holes in trees and cliff cavities. They lay 3-7 (usually 4-5) eggs which are white or pinkish marked with brown. Incubation (mainly by female but occasionally by male) takes 29 - 30 days.

Male is (9 - 11 inches)(22.5-27 cm); female is (9 - 12.5 inches)(23-30.5 cm). The average weight of the male is (.24 lbs)(109 grams); The average weight of the female is (.26 lbs)(119 grams).

• Kestrels have remarkable eyesight.
  
  
• After landing, the kestrel characteristically pumps tail up and down.
  
  
• Kestrels can live even in extreme desert.
  
  
• Kestrels are sometimes referred to as "Sparrow Hawk."

• The park currently has two kestrels on display, one female and one male.
  
  
• The kestrel will kill any small bird that ventures into its space.