American Kestrel

Reproduction rate

• Each nest averages 4-5 eggs
• Eggs take 26-32 days to hatch
• Survival depends directly on the mother birds and genetics

Life Span

• The average life span is five years and two months.
• Oldest recorded in wild is 11 years
• Captive birds may live up to 17 years

Trend Data

• The American kestrel is and has been in a widespread decline in population with little re growth

Unique Habits

• Both female and male birds care for young
• Male protects and finds food for family
• Hunt during day
• During mating season males claim territory by climbing and diving repeatedly

Food Source

• Mostly insects
• Invertabrates
• Small rodents and birds
• small snakes lizards and frogs

Environment

• open areas
• short ground vegitation
• sparse trees
• These birds can be found anywhere from Alaska and Canada to southern most South America

Extras

Untitled Slide

POCKET GUIDE TO NEBRASKA BIRDS

• Identifying: small falcon with pointed wings and a long tail male has blue gray wings and a reddish- brown back; female is reddish-brown all over. Both sexes have two. Vertical black stripes on each side of the head.
• Habitat: open areas. Nest in tree
• Feeding: hovers by rapidly beating wings; it also hunts from perches because of its small size of predication. The species was formerly known as a sparrow hawk
• Conservation: Declining across much of North America, but is increasing in Nebraska. Maintain grassland, preserve trees and snags, minimize pesticide use.
• Prey: grasshopper mouse bird. Insects small animals and nestlings