American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Nonforested Landscapes

      (Conifer Plantation (Regen))
      or Savanna
      or Field/Pasture
      or Small Grains/Forage Crops 
   containing:
      Perches
      and (Man-made Structures - nest boxes or Snags or Living Cavity Trees)

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The American Kestrel nests in tree cavities and crevices in buildings in open habitats. The Atlas Habitat Survey recorded the species most often in roadside, pasture, hayfield, grassland, old field, and row crop habitats with occasional records in oak savanna, orchard, and young pine forest. Not an uncommon sight among the skyscrapers of large cities, kestrels also breed in urban habitat. Marshy habitats are also sometimes inhabited. In northern Michigan, kestrels also utilize clearcuts and open bogs. Lack of suitable nesting cavities limits breeding numbers in many areas with otherwise suitable habitat. In Michigan, the kestrel's diet consists of insects, small mammals, and birds as large as flickers.

Prior to settlement, much of Michigan was heavily forested: thus, the kestrel was probably uncommon, occurring only in the scattered oak savanna, prairie, and marsh-edge habitats. The clearing of the forests undoubtedly benefited this species.

Habitat: Breeding: Open areas with a few trees containing cavities, wet meadows, forest edges near open ground, orchards, farm buildings, cities. Wintering: Same as breeding habitat.

Special Habitat Requirements: Nest trees with dbh greater than 12 inches for nesting. Open country with low vegetation. Elevated perches from which to sight prey. Snags.

In open country it is commonly seen perched on roadside wires or hovering over a field on rapidly beating wings, waiting to pounce on a grasshopper. Kestrels nest in cavities in trees; in places where there are few large dead snags to provide nest sites, they may rely on nest boxes put up for them by conservationists.

Habitat: Open country, farmland, cities, wood edges. Inhabits any kind of open or semi-open situation, from forest clearings to farmland to desert, wherever it can find adequate prey and some raised perches. In breeding season, may be limited to habitats that also provide appropriate nesting sites. In winter, females may tend to be found in more open habitats than males.

Feeding: Mostly large insects; also some small mammals, birds, reptiles. Grasshoppers are among the favored prey, but many other large insects are taken, including beetles, dragonflies, moths, caterpillars, others. Also feeds on mammals (including voles, mice, and sometimes bats), small birds (sometimes up to the size of quail), lizards, frogs, earthworms, spiders, crayfish, other items.

Nest: Site is in cavity, usually in dead tree or snag, sometimes in dirt bank or cliff or in old magpie nest. Also uses artificial nest boxes. Sites usually 10-30 feet up, but may be at any height.