A Resting American Kestrel
by Robert Bales
Title
A Resting American Kestrel
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
A HDR look at the American Kestrel resting in a palm tree in our back yard.
North America's littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator,s fierce intensity into its small body. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male,s slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place. Kestrels are declining in parts of their range; you can help them by putting up nest boxes.
American Kestrels are pale when seen from below and warm, rusty brown spotted with black above, with a black band near the tip of the tail. Males have slate-blue wings; female's wings are reddish brown. Both sexes have pairs of black vertical slashes on the sides of their pale faces sometimes called a mustache and a sideburn.
"American Kestrels usually snatch their victims from the ground, though some catch quarry on the wing. They are gracefully buoyant in flight, and are small enough to get tossed around in the wind. When perched, kestrels often pump their tails as if they are trying to balance. The American kestrel hunts by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey. Its diet typically consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice, and small birds (e.g. sparrows). It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. It is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners. Though not as aggressive a hunter as many other larger falcons, proper training and weight control by the falconer allows many kestrels to become effective hunters of birds in the size range of sparrows and starlings, with occasional success against birds up to approximately twice their own weight.
American Kestrels occupy habitats ranging from deserts and grasslands to alpine meadows. You're most likely to see them perching on telephone wires along roadsides, in open country with short vegetation and few trees.
Uploaded
April 9th, 2018
Statistics
Viewed 807 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/28/2024 at 11:48 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (12)
Marvin Blaine
What a great find and capture Robert! Powerful piece! LFX
Robert Bales replied:
Very lucky I had my camera with e while having a cup of coffee!! Thanks for the comment and LFX!
Robyn King
Congratulations Robert your gorgeous artwork is being featured in 500 Views Share Group & Shared:-) Please take a moment to add your beautiful art to our archives in the message area and have a wonderful day!
Anita Faye
Robert, happy to feature your beautiful work on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
Kathy M Krause
Breathtaking find and capture Robert! I love Kestrels and their beautiful detailed feathers! Awesome! L/F
William Tasker
Your beautiful and identified bird image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World, a nature photography group. L/F