There are 17 subspecies of the American kestrel and each varies in color, size, and vocalizations. The American kestrel is a small, slender falcon that is about the size of a robin. When hunting, the common kestrel hovers about 10–20 m above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift. Whilst classified as a top hunter there are several threats to the Kestrel such as Peregrine Falcons, Sparrowhawks, owls and Northern Goshawks. When hunting, the common kestrel characteristically hovers about 10–20 m (33–66 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift.Like most birds of prey, common kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance.Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. The American kestrel is also known as grasshopper hawk, due to its diet, and killy hawk, due to its distinct call. Due to the scarcity of mammals on oceanic islands, several species have adopted a diet containing many Phelsuma and other geckos. They are considered uncommon residents in winter and somewhat common migrants in fall and spring.

The American kestrel is commonly used in falconry, especially by beginners.

The diets of this species is extremely broad from small mammals, such as rodents to insects. 29, No. Kestrels can be seen in the state throughout the year. DIET: Common Kestrel is an efficient hunter feeding mainly on small mammals (voles, mice) which are about 90% of the diet. American Kestrel Sparrow Hawk - Falco sparverius by Damian Fagan. They are caught by hovering flight above the ground, waiting for the right moment before to swoop down onto the prey. It also consumes some passerines, lizards and insects. Diet. Behaviour remains similar to other small species of Falco (such as the common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus) except on (originally) forested Mauritius where kestrels hunt arboreally more like hawks. Predators & Threats. The study of seasonal variations of common kestrel diet showed that in the course of 1999, insects were mostly taken in winter (73.0%), then in spring (56.3%), in summer (49.5%) and autumn (42.1%). DIET. These results contradict the prediction of Hille and Winkler (2000), who found that the larger bill and long- er wing of Alexander's Kestrel may indicate frequent ae- rml hunting of larger prey items than those sought by the Neglectus Kcstrel.

(1982). 2, pp. The diet of Kestrels in relation to vole abundance. It can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways. Diet: The Common Kestrel is a carnivore that needs to consume some whole prey in order to allow its digestive system to work properly. It is found in open habitats that have plenty of nesting cavities and hunting perches.

The diet of the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus was studied by analysing pellets (N = 73) collected in the park of the national institute of agronomy at El Harrach between 1997 and 1998. 129-138. In the wild, they are known for kiting – hovering in one place, while they look for small rodents, which make up most of their prey.

Bird Study: Vol. the diet of the Common Kestrel throughout the western Palearctic (Cramp 1998). DIET OF THE COMMON KESTREL FALCO TINNUNCULUS IN EAST CORK AND WEST WATERFORD: AN INSIGHT INTO THE DYNAMICS OF INVASIVE MAMMAL SPECIES Patrick Smiddy ABSTRACT The common kestrel Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus is … Man-caused fatalities mainly revolve around hunting and pesticides.