![birds of prey birds of prey](http://www.jehphotography.net/uploads/3/0/1/9/3019960/2125044.jpg)
They have a lifespan of about 17 years in captivity, but only 5 in the wild. They tend to prefer open areas with fewer trees to maximize their hunting success.ĭiet: Insect-wise, these birds love grasshoppers, beetles, and moths, but they also take small mammals like mice or bats and birds of up to quail-sized! More about the American Kestrelįound all over Florida, the American Kestrel is the smallest species of Falcon in North America. Habitat: These birds hunt in a wide range of areas, such as alpine regions, grasslands, and deserts. Size: These birds measure in at 8.7 – 12.2 inches in length and have wingspans of 20.1 to 24 inches in width. These birds have small, curved orange and gray bills and female Kestrels will have rust colored wings, rather than slate.
![birds of prey birds of prey](http://www.flatratewebsites.com/sites/outback/photos/cockatiels/whitefacepiedhen.jpg)
Above the eyes, a wide gray stripe is present, and you will see a rust-colored cap. The breast will be white with some rust coloration missed at the upper breast and facially, the chin and cheeks are white with a pair of vertical black slashes present, while the back of the head will be rust colored with a black stripe at the back-center. Kestrels have long, square-tipped tails and the belly of this bird is white. Seen in flight the arrangement of spots is more symmetrical and looks a bit like an optical illusion. Let’s take a closer look at the Florida Birds of Prey! American Kestrel – Falco sparveriusĬoloration and Markings: American Kestrels have rust-brown backs with black spots, which extended to the inner edge of their long, narrow wings, with the wing coloration changing to a black-spotted slate blue for the remaining majority of the wings.
#BIRDS OF PREY HOW TO#
Today we’ll take a closer look at them so that you’ll know how to identify them, what they like to eat, where they spend their time, and we’ll throw in a few fun facts as well. The Sunshine State of Florida is home to 196 Avian species and for fans of birds of prey, you’ll be happy to know that Florida is the full or part-time home to 20 species of this variety.