Friday, February 20, 2009

American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk)


(pic from U of Oregon website)
Voice – shrill killy-killy-killy

Nesting – 4-5 white or pinkish eggs, blotched with brown, placed without nest or lining in a natural or man-made cavity.

Unlike larger falcons, the “Sparrow Hawk” has adapted to humans and nests even in our largest cities, where it preys chiefly on House Sparrows. In the countryside it takes insects, small birds, and rodents, capturing its prey on the ground rather than in midair like other falcons. The female does most of the incubating and is fed by the male. The male 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. The young stay with the adults fro a time after fledging, and it is not uncommon to see family parties in the summer.

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