American Kestrels are pale when seen from below and warm, rusty brown spotted with black above, with a black band near the tip of the tail. Males have slate-blue wings; females’ wings are reddish brown. Both sexes have pairs of black vertical slashes on the sides of their pale faces—sometimes called a “mustache” and a “sideburn."

Feb 19, 2019 · Adult males are rusty above with slate-blue wings and two black slashes on the face. Often bobs its tail while perched. Small falcon about the size of a Mourning Dove. Females are rusty overall with black barring on the wings and back. They have two black slashes on their face and a gray crown.

Relatively small and long-tailed, with two sharp face stripes. Female all red-brown above with narrow dark bars, including on tail. Male has red-brown tail with black tip, red-brown back contrasting with blue-gray wings.

Jan 14, 2020 · Male and female kestrels have two black “double mustaches,” called malaria stripes resembling a mustache and sideburns on either side of their heads. But that’s where the similarities end. Kestrels have many detailed markings and colorings.

The Kestrel is an adaptable eater, adjusting its menu to the bounty available. Its preferred prey includes: Insects: Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles – an insect smorgasbord keeps the Kestrel’s energy levels high. Rodents: Mice, voles, and even young rabbits fall …

The dark spot atop the kestrel’s head serves a completely different purpose. While a predator oversees a kestrel, trying to attack it from behind, the spot on its hood resembles false eyes, thus fooling the predator, confusing its head as its face.

The face is boldly patterned with a mustache stripe below the bill. The female is similar to the male but lacks its blue-gray wings, and the chest markings are more pronounced. American Kestrels are North America’s smallest falcons.

Jun 22, 2020 · North America’s smallest falcon packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its compact body. Decked in warm rusty reds and steely blues—and sporting dark slashes on its face—it is among the most colorful and captivating of all raptors.

Both male and female feature two black, vertical stripes on either side of the face. On the back of the head are two eyespots which help to prevent attacks by predators. When in flight it appears as if they are looking up at aerial predators helping to stop them attacking and allowing the kestrel to focus on hunting.

American kestrels have long, narrow wings perfectly designed for speed and maneuverability. They have white on either side of their face, and a white and black-streaked breast and belly. The kestrel's wings are a dark gray-blue with white and black streaking and spots.