Scientific Name: Falco sparverius

Residency: Year-round throughout Arizona.

Diet: Insects (many grasshoppers), small mammals (including voles and mice), small birds (like sparrows), amphibians, and reptiles. Hunts by perching or hovering (often hovers near roads, in tall tress or on telephone poles), then diving down to catch prey.

Predators:   Fire ants and yellow rat snakes prey upon eggs and young.  Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk prey upon adults.  "Eye spots" on back of head serve to confuse would-be predators.

Nesting: Builds a cavity nest with no lining material. Lays 1 brood per year consisting of 4-5 eggs, white with dark/brown markings. Adapts quickly to a wooden nesting box. May also use woodpecker hole in cactus or tree, or cliff nook.

Nesting Records:

Notes: Formerly called Sparrow Hawk (hence the Latin name Falco sparverius) owing to its small size (10 inches total length). However, despite its small size, it will defend its nest against almost any intruder. The American Kestrel is the most common falcon in North America, with habitats as diverse as towns and wild lands. The male does all the hunting during the breeding period (8-12 weeks duration), while the female stays at the nest.

Photo: Photo at right was taken at Scottsdale Community College on September 16, 2006. For more photos click on camera icon.

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