American Kestrel
Falco sparverius (Linnaeus, 1758)
AMEKE 
3050
Family: Falconiformes > Falconidae
Smaller than our Kestrel, males and females normally winter in different habitats in South America (wooded and open, respectively), but occasional individuals have turned up in Britain & Ireland.
This first British record came in late May 1976 (a male on Fair Isle) and was closely followed by an adult female that was discovered 17 days and 900 miles further south on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the American Kestrel
BTO RECORDS
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Fair Isle, 1976 |
DISTRIBUTION
This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 1 |
| % occupied in winter | 0.03 |
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about American Kestrel, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
5-letter code: AMEKE | Euring: 3050 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Results from a long-term nest-box program for American kestrels: implications for improved population monitoring and conservation
- Kestrel use of nest boxes on reclaimed surface mines in West Virginia and Pennsylvania
- Effect of nest-box size on nest-site preference and reproduction in American kestrels
Read more studies about American Kestrel on Conservation Evidence >
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