The female has many dark bands on the tail while the male has one wide black band on the tail. Photos taken at Hawk Hill during Golden Gate Raptor Observatory banding demonstrations. 2000 Kestrels, like all falcons have a large dark eye. Photos taken during volunteer work for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. The American Kestrel is a beautiful small falcon.
Kestrels eat a wide variety of foods including insects, small mammals and small birds.
Unlike many raptors, male and female kestrels are similar in size but different in color. Kestrels hunt from perches or by hovering. Hovering is an active flight that keeps them over a spot while looking for prey. Please have all the information on the bird band with you when you call. They will need to know the band number, location you found the bird, the date you found the bird, and how you got the band as well as your name and address.