Falco sparverius

The American kestrel is a true falcon. It is one of the few birds that can hover in flight. Most of us have seen the kestrel hovering over the median strip of highways and fields as it hunts for voles, large insects and mice. It has been described as the most colorful raptor in the world.

It is the most common falcon in North America and is found from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. It has expanded its population with development, as forests are removed and open country expanded. Open country habitat is preferred.

The Kestrel is small, 9-12 inches, and only weighs 2.8 to 5.8 ounces. It has a remarkably beautifully marked face with two dark mustached tear marks. The back and tail is rufous. Males have a slate blue-gray wing with dark freckles spotting the chest and belly. The larger female's wings are rufous and barred with black. Female kestrels have a streaked chest.

Kestrels are cavity nesters and can be attracted to a nest box erected high on a tree near open areas where they can hunt. Ann Matthews of Clearfield has a pair of kestrels that used a nest box that she erected in her backyard this spring. Four fledgling kestrels are now leaving the nest box to make their way in the world.

Ann has photographed and chronicled their stay from selecting and moving into the box, until the fledglings (three males and a female) left the box on their first forays for grasshoppers and dragonflies in her backyard this week.

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Bill Fenimore is owner of the Layton Wild Bird Center (www.wildbird.com/layton).