American kestrel

American kestrel perched on a wire against a deep blue sky, Manitoba

The American kestrel is North America’s smallest falcon, and a bird this size and colour is easy to spot perched on a roadside wire against an open sky. The female, like the one here, has a rusty back and tail with fine dark barring, a pale face with two bold dark stripes, and a sharp, hooked bill. Males share the pattern but have slate-blue wings.

Kestrels hunt open fields and ditches, often hovering in place on rapidly beating wings before dropping on grasshoppers, mice, and small birds. They nest in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, and nest boxes, and they return to Manitoba in spring, with most heading south again by fall. Look for them on power lines along quiet country roads.

To find out more about the American kestrel and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

Here is one of my favourite frames of this bird, perched on a wire against a clear blue sky.

Field notes in photographs

  • American kestrel perched on a wire against a deep blue sky, Manitoba
  • American kestrel perched on a power line against a deep blue sky, Manitoba

American kestrel Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the american kestrel in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the american kestrel nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the american kestrel in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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