American Kestrels Hatch Five Chicks In 2025

North America’s smallest falcons are live for an extra-busy nestling period on the American Kestrel Cam! After 33 days of incubation, the first egg hatched on May 14—and by May 16, all five kestrel chicks had arrived. Now, it’s time to watch this flurry of activity as the parents work tirelessly to raise their brood. Tune in live and enjoy their transformation from fluffy hatchlings to strong little raptors in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin!

Breeding Season Roles

During the first stage of nestling period, the female focuses on protecting her chicks inside the nest box. For the first 8–10 days, she’ll stay inside to keep them safe and warm. After this period, she’ll resume hunting and typically spend nights with the brood.

Meanwhile, the male plays the role of provider, stocking the nest with food during this critical stage. Sometimes, he’ll alert the female to pick up a meal outside the nest box, or deliver meals directly inside. Both parents feed the chicks, and during peak activity, nests can see 40+ prey deliveries in a single day!

Watching Them Grow

We’ll get to watch the chicks grow for around one month before they’ll be ready to fledge. During that period, they’ll transform from tiny, helpless hatchlings covered in white down into noisy, energetic little raptors. Feeding times can be a frenzy as the chicks compete for food. Older chicks eat first and only make way for their younger siblings once they’ve had enough to eat. By the time they fledge, the young birds will even weigh more than their parents. The extra mass is thought to help provide a temporary buffer as they finish growing their flight feathers and endure the challenges of learning how to forage.

Join us for an unforgettable nestling period on the American Kestrel Cam. Follow daily updates on X/Twitter and Mastodon to stay connected throughout the season.