Apart from man, the American Kestrel could be considered as the most successful vertebrate predator in the Americas. Its breeding range extends from Arctic Canada down almost to Tierra del Fuego, an amazing 13,000 miles.

Every birdwatcher in America will have seen this bird and even those who do not consider themselves birdwatchers, but are generally interested in wildlife, will also have seen a Kestrel.  This diminutive predator loves to perch in prominent places and has the habit of ‘hovering‘ in flight.

These habits make the bird easy to spot.  If you want to encourage a child to be interested in nature and wildlife, this is a good bird to start with. On long road journeys as a kid, my dad used to get us all to count them as we drove along.

 

Throughout their enormous range the kestrel has developed into seventeen sub-species, each one geographically separated from the other. To be successful an animal needs to be flexible in where it lives and what it feeds on and the American Kestrel has been great at doing that. They feed on small rodents and insects and so in those areas where intensive agriculture predominates, particularly where chemicals are used, kestrels do not do well.

They breed mostly in trees but are equally at home on the ledges of high rise urban blocks or old buildings in the countryside.  The American Kestrel is even expanding its range and taking advantage of deforestation in various parts of its range such as Amazon. This is one animal that is a 21st century winner.