The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon found in North America. Like all falcons worldwide, Kestrels have a dark eye, notched beak and unfeathered legs. Males have a rusty back, blue wings, and a rusty-colored tail with a black terminal band.
Females have rusty wings, back and tail, all marked with black barring.
Both sexes have a dark vertical line running through the eye with a white cheek and chin patches. The top of the head is blue with a rusty cap, usually brighter in males than females. Distributed throughout the New World. Their breeding range extends as far north as central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and extends south throughout North America, into central Mexico, Central and South America. Most of the birds breeding in Canada and the northern U.S. migrate south in the winter, although some stay as year round residents.