American Kestrel identification

American kestrel Falco sparverius

Identification Tips:

Length: 8.5 inches Wingspan: 21 inches
Short, dark, hooked beak
Small, long-tailed hawk
Long, narrow, pointed wings
Gray crown
White cheeks
Two black mustache marks
Black spot at rear of crown on both sides
Seen from below, flight feathers are pale with dark barring
Juveniles and immature females like adult female

Adult male:
Rust patch on crown
Rust nape, breast, back and tail
Rust tail has a broad black subterminal band and a narrow white terminal band
Pale belly
Blue-gray wing coverts
Dark flight feathers with pale subterminal spots creating a "string of pearls"
Black spots on scapulars, wing coverts and flanks

Adult female:
Pale buff breast streaked with brown
Rust-brown nape, back and wing coverts
Back and wing coverts barred heavily with black
Rust-brown tail with numerous dark bars of even width and a narrow white terminal band

Immature male:
Barred rust-brown back barred heavily with black
Streaked breast