They breed from Alaska and Northwest Territories east through the Maritime Provinces and south throughout the continent. Winters north to British Columbia, Great Lakes, ad New England. Also into American tropics. Habitat is mostly farmland, suburban and urban areas.
Kestrels typically hunt from a conspicuous perch or hover like miniature helicopters.
The flight is buoyant, graceful and rapid, quite-like a large swallow. The female does most of the incubating for 28 to 30 days, while the male hunts for her. Young kestrels fledge from the nest after 28 to 30 days. Card by Henson Robinson Zoo Education Department.