Appearance
At an adult size of 9-11 inches, the Kestrel is the size of a jay. This bird is a very common one and often seen. The male has a rusty, black-barred back with dark blue inner wings. His head is marked with patches of rust, white and black. The tail is long and rusty with a black band at the tip. The female is more brown with more barring and a less distinct head pattern. These birds generally sit almost erect.
Food
Hovers on rapidly beating wings while hunting for insects, small mammals and birds, and reptiles which it captures with a rapid stoop.
Habits and Breeding
The Kestrel prefers open country as well as populated areas. They nest in cavities anywhere from in trees to in buildings. The 3-7 eggs are white with a heavy blotching of rust. The Female incubates them for 27-29 days. | 
Kestrels, Male on left, Female on Right |
