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American Kestrels.....

have adapted to humans and nests even in our largest cities, where it preys chiefly on House Sparrows. The American Kestrel has been knicknamed "sparrow hawk" because of its eating habits. In the countryside it takes insects, small birds, mammals including bats, mice, shrews, gophers, young ground squirrels, young cottontails and rodents, capturing its prey on the ground rather than in mid-air like other falcons.

The American Kestrel is unique in that it is the only falcon in North America to nest in cavities such as nesting boxes with a 3 inch diameter hole, natural cavities in trees, abandoned woodpecker holes and cavities on and around buildings. Nest boxes should be placed 13 -16 feet off the ground in areas where grasslands are kept cut low, for ease of hunting. Nesting boxes should be cleaned out between breeding seasons and 2 - 4 inches of straw, wood chips or nesting materials replaced in the bottom of the nesting box. The female Kestrel does most of the incubating and is fed by the male during the 28 day incubation period. The male Kestrel calls as he nears the nest with food; the female flies to him, receives the food, and returns to the nest. After the eggs hatch, the male continues to bring most of the food, but the female does help some at this point. The young stay with the adults for two to three weeks after fledging, with the adults still feeding them, and it is not uncommon to see family parties in late summer.

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