Habitat: This species can be found in open or semi-open areas such as clearings. Distribution: The American kestrel breeds from northern North America to Nicaragua and through South America. The northern birds will migrate south during winter at least to northern South America. Natural History Notes: You do not have to go very far to find the American kestrel. You may find it perched on telephone pole or wires, or on an exposed branch. The American Kestrel is the only North American falcon to habitually hover with rapid wing beats, keeping its head motionless while scanning the ground for prey. It occasionally soars in circles with its tail spread and its wings flat. Its diet consists in grasshoppers, dragonflies, lizards, mice, and voles. They will also eat other small birds. Conservation status according to IUCN 2008 Red list: Least Concern (LC). Characteristics: The total length of this species varies between 9 inches and 12 inches (measured from tip of bill to end of tail). The plumage will differ between the sexes. The male plumage consists in a rufous coloration on the part above with a crown and most of the wings of a blue-gray coloration. The sides of the head are white and show a fine black undulated stripe a black vertical stripe near the eye. The part below is beige with black spots on the breast and the sides. Then, the tail has a rufous coloration with a large black subterminal band and a white tip. The female shows the same coloration pattern for the head as in the male, but the part above of the body is completely rufous, including the wings, with white stripes. THe part below is also beige with stripped with brown. Finally, the tail also has a rufous coloration, but shows many fine black bands.