KALONA

The itty-bitty American Kestrel might not intimidate at a glance, but this small raptor terrorizes many across the American continent.

The kestrel’s ferocity is not it’s defining quality; rather, it is one of the most colorful raptors in the world with a wide array of unique and interesting behaviors.

Don Lund, a local bird enthusiast and kestrel advocate, spoke at the annual Purple Martin Workshop and Seminar on Saturday, March 16, in hopes of teaching about the kestrel and raising awareness of its declining population.

Falco Sparverius

Once labeled the Sparrowhawk, scientists now know that the American Kestrel is a true falcon, sharing no lineage with a common hawk.

Though kestrels are prevalent throughout America, Iowa has a unique situation; a slim portion of the northern border near Minnesota is considered kestrel breeding ground, and the rest of the state sees kestrels nest year-round.

Kestrels measure roughly nine inches in length with a 22-inch wingspan. They have a unique ability: they can hover in place, like a hummingbird – but with less grace.

They don’t hover often; kestrels utilize this unique tool in their arsenal when hunting. They prefer wide open spaces and mostly hunt insects and small rodents. Sometimes, a kestrel will take down another bird, but this is rare.

Even when a kestrel cannot see prey, they still find a way to track them down.

Kestrels see ultraviolet light. Here is how it works on the field: mice typically urinate while they’re moving, leaving behind a trail for the kestrel to follow. A kestrel will then wait for the perfect opportunity to strike, typically when the mouse resurfaces.

Kestrels flock south for the winter, returning in warmer weather to begin a new chapter in life.

Unique distinctions separate male and female kestrels.

These wooden kestrels display the differences between female and male kestrels. The female Kestrel is displayed on the left and the male kestrel is …

The males are the more colorful of the two, sporting a bluish-gray tinge through their wings and on their face with dots scattered on their underbelly. Their tail remains solidwith one thick black bar and white tips.

The female kestrels are a tad larger with a less distinctive rusty brown plumage. They feature black barring which continues through the tail. Their difference in color helps female kestrels blend into the environment.

There is one feature both sexes share: a white face with a black bar underneath the eyes to fight sun glare, often coined a ‘mustache’ or ‘sideburns’.

Where to spot a kestrel

Kestrels spend ample time on power lines. Sometimes referred to as the “wire hawk,” kestrels prefer power lines surrounded by open space with little vegetation. This is because the kestrel can see the slightest disturbance through light brush from up to 300 yards away while hunting.

Because of their preferences, kestrels usually migrate towards rural highways surrounded by farmland.

They also feature a unique call – using the internet, you can listen to what a kestrel sounds like – and they are courtship fliers, meaning they dive then rise quickly and repeatedly.

And of course, their ability to hover helps them stand out from all other raptors.

But spotting a kestrel can be a challenge due to their small size.  They are comparable to a merlin or mourning dove in both color and size, making the three difficult to distinguish from a distance.

By knowing all of their unique distinctions, one should eventually be able to recognize a kestrel out and about.

How to help American Kestrels

There are many reasons as to why local ecosystems should cater to the American Kestrel. Their role in the ecosystem is unmatched; the insects they eat are often crop pests. Eliminating crop pests reduces crop damage significantly.

Additionally, they’re what is considered to be an indicator species: their success, or lack thereof, is an indication of how well certain ecosystems are functioning. There has been a 50% decline in kestrel populations in the last 50 years in the United States. This means a rise in pests which can damage the ecosystem.

If you want to attract kestrels to your backyard or simply help their declining population, follow some of these guidelines laid out by Lund to see the best possible outcome.

Since kestrels prefer wide open spaces, folks with land will do better than most. But do not remove the entire environment to cater to kestrels; not only would that hurt the natural habitat, but kestrels are not a fan of barren land with no trees. If a kestrel has nowhere else to go, they will nest among the trees.

Perches and wires strewn about the land will give the kestrels ideal places to hunt.

But they need a home as well.

Kestrels in the wild like to find abandoned woodpecker holes, using those as a home. Imitating this with a kestrel nest box is key.

You can purchase or craft a kestrel next box. They should be hung 8-12 feet in the air before mating season – early spring to late summer. They should also be monitored and cleaned out after the kestrels leave the home – but not once the kestrels have laid eggs.

One negative is that kestrel nest boxes stink. Lund allows the birds to abandon the nest and waits a while before cleaning them out to allow the smell to evaporate naturally.

Limit box placement to one per 120-340 acres to prevent overcrowding or competition between kestrels.

Kestrels are sometimes hunted by larger raptors. Because of this, your nest box should have protections in place to keep the kestrels safe.

Lund also promoted the idea of contacting landowners and seeing if they’ll allow you to put a kestrel nest box on their property. Lund himself has hung numerous kestrel nest boxes between Kalona and Iowa City along Highway 1. This is an ideal spot, matching all of the kestrels’ needs.

Doing these things will help support the kestrel population as well as give everyone the pleasure of seeing an American Kestrel in action.