The American Kestrel, with its 60 cm long outstretched wings and 25 to 30cm tall, the kestrel is the smallest falcon in America. It is a very agile and fast-flying bird that feeds on birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians and insects, grabbing its prey with powerful claws.
It differs between the male and the female in that the latter has reddish-brown wings with black spots and a reddish tail with black bands, while the male has only a black band at the end of the tail and blue-grey wings.
It can be found from Alaska and Canada to the southern tip of South America, preferably in open environments such as grasslands, prairies, deserts and scrublands, from sea level to 3,800meters of altitude.
Photo: Pía Vergara @piavergarafotografia
Text: Nicolás Lagos @nicolagos_s