Home
Raptor
Quiz
Timing
Hawk
Hill Map
Hawk
Hill Weather
Hawk
Hill View
I.D.
Help
Research
Education
Volunteer
FAQ
Mission
Photo
Album
Rare
Raptors
HawkWatch
Today
Current
Events
Links
The American Kestrel(Falco sparverius) Male American Kestrel |
 |
The American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon. This colorful bird can be seen from Canada to Mexico.
This small falcon hunts for insects, small mammals, and occasionally small birds. They hunt from perches and also by hovering.
Length: 8 1/2 - 11 inches
Wing Span: 21 inches
Weight: 100-200 grams (28.6 grams to the ounce)
Photo taken at Hawk Hill during a Golden Gate Raptor Observatory banding demonstration. In this photo you can see the small aluminum United States Fish and Game band on the Kestrel's leg.
Female American Kestrel
 |
Female and Male American Kestrel
|
|
The male American Kestrel (right) has different colors and markings than the female. The female does not have the blue gray wings of the male kestrel. The female has many dark bands on the tail while the male has one wide black band on the tail.
Photos taken at Hawk Hill during Golden Gate Raptor Observatory banding demonstrations.
Male American Kestrel
 |
If you find a bird other than a pigeon with an aluminum band, please call and report the find to The Bird Banding Laboratory. The call is toll-free and the number is 1-800-327-BAND (2263) from anywhere in Canada, the United States and most parts of the Caribbean. Please have all the information on the bird band with you when you call. They will need to know the band number, location you found the bird, the date you found the bird, and how you got the band as well as your name and address. The sole purpose of 1-800-327-BAND is to make it convenient for people to report recoveries of birds banded with service bands. Please do not use this number to call about other matters. The 1-800 number is NOT for reporting pigeon bands (rock doves). The Bird Banding Laboratory does not keep any records on the bands used on pigeons.
Contact the GGRO:
Mail:
Golden Gate Raptor Observatory
Building 201, Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone:
(415) 331-0730
E-mail address:
ggro@parksconservancy.org
Fly Home