Its plumage is spectacular. The face is white with two black stripes dropping down from the eye to the neck. The feathers on top of its head are a blue-gray as are the wing feathers of the male. The females wings are colored a reddish brown. Feathers on the chest are colored beige with black spots and the beak and talons are a dull yellow.
Kestrels are common throughout the United States.
Some scientists estimate a population of almost 2.5 million birds around the country. They are found in parks, rural areas, farm fields and suburbs. You'll often see them sitting on a wire or fence post surveying the ground for food. They also can be observed hovering a few feet above the ground searching for prey. They are beneficial birds to man.