American kestrels: Ohio's smallest falcons

My early lessons on birds of prey were clouded by my mother’s upbringing. On the farm during the 1930s, Mom was taught there were two kinds of hawks.

“Sparrow hawks” were small (about the size of a robin), fierce and frequently seen snacking on mice while perched atop fence posts and along the still-rare electric lines. They were largely harmless on the farm and, because of their rodent-hunting prowess, were generally left unmolested.

“Chicken hawks,” by my grandfather’s definition, included every species larger than the sparrow hawk and were shot on sight lest they find their way to the farmyard and grab up the hens. Fortunately, at least for the birds, this practice was outlawed in 1972 when hawks and owls were finally protected along with the hundreds of other bird species initially sheltered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Even today, when I see an American kestrel perched on a roadside wire, my first reflex says “sparrow hawk.” That colloquial name, based on the bird’s tendency to scoop up most any bird smaller than itself — including the invasive English sparrow — was off a bit on both accounts.

First, the American kestrel is not a hawk at all, but rather the smallest species of falcon in North America. It’s also one of the most common and widespread, with its range covering the vast majority of both North and South America.

And while sparrows may be part of its diet, the American kestrel grabs up a whole host of rodents, reptiles and insects as well. Watching patiently from power lines or, more spectacularly, hovering above grassy ditches and fields, the diminutive falcon eventually dives to seize its prey with sharp talons. If you hang on after the bird makes that dive, you’ll almost certainly see it hoist the meal to a high spot to pick apart with impunity.

As the only day-feeding raptor in North America that nests in cavities rather than building a nest, one might discover an American kestrel living in manmade crevices on farm buildings or even taking up residence in nesting boxes created for screech owls or other species. And while discovery of a nesting site is rare, the birds are very accessible and easily spotted on a drive or bicycle ride along the backroads of our area.

If you have comments on this column or questions about the natural world, write The Rail Trail Naturalist, P.O. Box 170, Fredericksburg, OH 44627, or email jlorson@alonovus.com. You also can follow along on Instagram @railtrailnaturalist.