American Kestrel

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon and fairly common. In Illinois, it is often seen perched on wires along roadsides. When hunting, it often hovers in one spot on rapidly beating wings looking mostly for large insects but also rodents or small birds. These two photos show the tail feathers spread. The red-brown coloring of the tail along with black tips at the end of the tail feathers indicate that this is a male.