![]() The birds range between 22 and 31 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of between 51 and 61 centimeters.Īmerican kestrels are leaner and less muscular than larger falcons. ![]() Though the size difference between the males and females is less pronounced than in larger falcons, females tend to be around 10-15% larger. The females are moderately larger than the males, showing sexual dimorphism in both size and plumage. The kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America, varying in size (depending on the specific subspecies) from around the weight of a blue jay to the weight of a mourning dove. However, there are some general things to look for when trying to identify an American kestrel: Size Though these subspecies have much in common, there are differences based on plumage, size, and the vocalizations each makes. It is also essential to understand that there is not one American kestrel but seventeen different subspecies of this type of bird found throughout the Americas. So while all American kestrels are falcons, not all falcons are American kestrels. Of course, plenty of other birds within the Falco genus also exist. So, though the name has stuck (at least for now), kestrels are actually falcons. The kestrel is more closely related to the larger American falcons like the aplomado, peregrine, and prairie falcons than to true kestrels. What is the difference between a kestrel and a falcon? The bird was officially renamed “American kestrel” in the sixth edition of the AOU Checklist of North American Birds. ![]() The common name of sparrow hawk arose from a mistaken belief that this bird was related to the Eurasian sparrowhawk – of the Accipiter genus. Though it is also known by many as the sparrow hawk, it is not a hawk but rather a falcon – the smallest and most common falcon in North America. It has also been mistaken for a sparrow hawk, a grasshopper hawk, and a killy hawk.ĭNA evidence placing this bird more accurately within the Falco genus means that the name kestrel may change in the future as scientists find out more about the evolutionary history of these birds. The American kestrel, Falco sparverius, is a fascinating bird.
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