American Kestrel
with lunch
April 2006
 



Also called a sparrow hawk, the American kestrel is a small (and intense) falcon.

Kestrels had been reported in the game land north of Cooper's Pond, but this is only the second time I had seen any.

The following is a male kestrel, since his wings are bluish, whereas the female has reddish wings.
 

American kestrel with lunch
   
To my surprise, the kestrel landed only about a hundred something feet away from me. He waited a few moments and then took off again.
 
American kestrel taking off
 
  Dan Omabalski (of the Tussey Mountain Spring Hawkwatch) told me that the kestrel's "lunch" was probably a vole.

Photo note: I used a Pentax *ist D, with the SMC 1000mm reflex lens.




My Pennsylvania bird list

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