Merlins prey mainly on birds, but also take small mammals and insects. They favor open woods or heavy timber in wild areas. They nest about 35-60 feet up on ledges, in natural cavities or in old nests of other birds. Incubation takes 30 days and is by the female. Kestrels, also known as sparrow hawks, have rusty red head caps, backs and tails, and a black and white face pattern.
Males have blue-gray wings, females brown wings.
The kestrel is one of our smallest raptor and our most common falcon. Its flight is erratic and buoyant, and it often perches on telephone poles or hovers in one spot on rapidly beating wings. Voice is a shrill killy killy killy. They inhabit open woods, orchards and fields, and breed throughout the eastern United States. Kestrels nest in tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes and old buildings and accept nest boxes readily.