Kestrels exhibit the typical falcon shape with a short neck and small bullet- like head.
The head of the bird has a black and white pattern with dark vertical whisker-like marks on the sides. Found in open fields, meadows, over farms and in open woodland. Fairly common in cities, the American kestrel can be seen perched on roadside wires and utility poles. Kestrels prefer to nest in the hollows of trees, but seemingly any hollow will do. In cities and towns the bird will nest in niches in walls and holes under gables and in specially-built bird boxes.