American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Adult male
- Very small falcon
- Reddish orange back with black markings
- Blue/gray wings
- Black and white facial pattern
- © Michael Hogan, NJ, February 2005
American Kestrel
Adult female
- Very small with rounded head
- Long wings and tail
- Black and white facial pattern
- Tan wings with black markings
- © Ned Harris, AZ, December 2008
American Kestrel
Adult male
- Long wings and tail with rounded head
- Blue/gray crown and wings
- Bold facial pattern
- Black markings on buffy orange back and breast
- © Darin Ziegler, CO, Colorado Springs, April 2008
American Kestrel
Adult female
- Small and delicate
- Long wings and tail
- Black markings on back and breast
- Bold facial pattern
- © Christopher L. Wood, CO, April 2008
American Kestrel
Adult male taking flight
- Sharply pointed wings
- Robin-sized
- Thick black band at tip of tail
- Bold facial pattern
- © Ron Kube, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, April 2009
American Kestrel
Adult male in flight
- Small and delicate
- Long wings and tail
- Underwings pale with dark barring
- © Paul Pruitt, TX, La Vernia, Wilson County, December 2009
American Kestrel
Adult female taking flight
- Long, pointed wings
- Dark streaks on breast
- Tan and black patterned wings
- Bold facial pattern
- © William Jobes, PA, September 2008
American Kestrel
Juvenile
- Similar to adult female
- Dense brown streaking on breast
- Bold facial pattern
- Delicate, with long wings and tail
- © Ron Kube, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September 2009
Similar Species
Immature
- Similar to female American Kestrel, but more slender and stream-lined
- Plain brown face and wings with no pattern
- Wings shorter, more rounded than American Kestrel
- Long tail
- © John Rowe, Ossipee, NH, October 2010
Adult female "Taiga form"
- Larger, more muscular than American Kestrel
- Plain face with no obvious pattern
- Dark brown, unmarked back and wings
- © Duncan Murray, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, December 2008