Where can you see Kestrels?

Kestrels are small falcons that can be found throughout most of the world. They are a common sight in open country, along roadside lines and perched on power lines. In North America, there are two species of kestrels that overlap in range – the American Kestrel and the Merlin. The American Kestrel is widespread and common, while the Merlin is less frequently encountered. Kestrels can be seen in a variety of habitats from meadows and grasslands to deserts, parks, and suburban areas. The key to finding kestrels is looking for their preferred perches which allow them to scan for prey.

Where can you see American Kestrels in North America?

The American Kestrel is the most widespread and commonly seen falcon in North America. It occupies a range that extends from Alaska and Canada south through all of the continental United States, Mexico and Central America. Here are some of the best places to look for American Kestrels:

• Along roadsides – Kestrels frequently perch on telephone lines, poles and signs along the sides of roads and highways as they scan for prey. Drive along rural roads with open fields, meadows or grasslands and watch the lines for small, colorful falcons.
• In open country – Pastures, hayfields, meadows, grasslands, deserts and other open habitats provide good hunting grounds for kestrels. Look for them perched on fence posts, utility poles, trees and shrubs.
• Near wetlands – Kestrels may concentrate around wetlands, fields or ditches where rodents and insects are abundant.
• In parks and suburbs – Kestrels adapt well to human activity and can often be found perching on light posts and wires in city parks, school fields, golf courses and suburban neighborhoods.
• Near nest boxes – Many areas have nest box programs specifically for kestrels. Checking out known nesting boxes is a reliable way to find kestrels during the breeding season.

Some parts of the American Kestrel’s range where they are particularly prevalent include the Great Plains grasslands, the mixed farmland of the Midwest, the sagebrush steppes of the Intermountain West, and open areas throughout Florida. Any open habitat near open country across North America has the potential for kestrel sightings.

Where can you see Merlins in North America?

The Merlin is a small falcon that breeds across Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the northern United States. During winter, migratory Merlins move south throughout the U.S. and into Mexico and Central America. Here are some of the best places to find wintering and resident Merlins:

• Coastlines – Wintering Merlins often concentrate along coastlines where flocks of small birds provide abundant prey. Watch for them hunting shorebirds and passerines.
• Fields and meadows – Similar to kestrels, Merlins frequent open habitats like grasslands, meadows, pastures and wetland edges.
• Forest openings – Unlike kestrels, Merlins sometimes hunt within forests, particularly along forest edges, fields, waterways and openings.
• Urban areas – During migration and winter, Merlins may be seen in cities following concentrations of birds. Check city parks and waterfronts.
• Christmas Bird Counts – Many wintering Merlins are reported on annual Christmas Bird Counts, making CBC circle a good place to find them.

Some of the best locations to spot Merlins in winter include coastal Texas, Florida, the Pacific Northwest, Southeast Arizona, and the Great Lakes region. Breeding Merlins can be found across Alaska, Canada, and northern Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Maine and other northern forested areas.

When are the best times to see kestrels and merlins?

Here are some notes on the seasonal occurrence of kestrels and merlins throughout North America:

• American Kestrels are present year-round through most of their range, though northern populations migrate south for the winter.
• The best viewing is often during courtship and nesting from spring through mid-summer when vocalizations and aerial displays are most frequent.
• Fledged young may be seen with parents through late summer before dispersing in fall.
• Merlins are migratory, arriving on breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska in April-May. Most leave by October.
• Migrating and wintering Merlins occur across the U.S. from September through March.
• Christmas Bird Counts provide a peak count of wintering Merlins in December and January.

So while kestrels can be seen year-round across much of their range, Merlins offer more seasonal variation through their migrations. However, both species have daily peaks of activity in the mornings and evenings as they hunt.

What is the best way to find kestrels and merlins?

Here are some tips for locating kestrels and merlins:

• Scan telephone lines, poles, posts and other perches as you drive through open country.
• Stop frequently to scan fence lines, trees and other perch sites – kestrels are easily flushed.
• Listen for vocalizations like the kestrel’s klee-klee-klee call or Merlin’s rapid chattering kek-kek-kek.
• Use binoculars to carefully identify small falcon silhouettes on distant perches.
• Watch for hunting falcons – hovering kestrels and swift-flying Merlins.
• Visit known nesting sites during breeding season.
• Follow mixed flocks of small birds which may attract hunting Merlins in winter.

Patience and persistence are often required as kestrels and Merlins can be inconspicuous despite their open country habitats. But the sight of a colorful kestrel or streaking Merlin on a roadside wire makes a thrilling reward for birding efforts.

What do kestrels and merlins look like?

Here is a quick overview of identifying features of American Kestrels and Merlins:

American Kestrel

• Small falcon, about the size of a mourning dove.
• Long pointed wings and medium-length square-tipped tail.
• Male has gray head and wings, rusty-colored back, and black vertical stripes on white face.
• Female has rusty-colored back, wings and tail barred with black.
• Hovers frequently.

Merlin

• A dashing falcon slightly larger than a kestrel.
• Sharp pointed wings and a longer tail with wide dark bands.
• Streamlined silhouette in flight.
• Dark slaty back and wings contrast with pale underside.
• White supercilium and moustache stripe.

There are other small falcon species, but these are the most widespread and commonly seen in North America. Carefully comparing size, shape, and plumage in good light or optics allows confident identification.

What habitats do kestrels and merlins prefer?

Kestrels and Merlins occupy overlapping niches as small falcons that prey predominantly on smaller birds and some insects and rodents. However, they tend to frequent slightly different habitats:

Both species require elevated perches for hunting and will readily utilize man-made structures. But kestrels are more tied to wide open spaces while Merlins tolerate forested areas that provide clearings for hunting. In winter, they may overlap more in open areas rich in small bird prey.

What are some interesting facts about kestrels and merlins?

Here are some fascinating tidbits about these small North American falcons:

• American Kestrels are North America’s smallest falcon – not much bigger than a dove.
• Kestrels are cavity nesters, often using old woodpecker holes for nest sites.
• The male kestrel’s rusty color comes from colored keratin in his feathers, not pigment.
• The American Kestrel is able to hover in place while hunting, a rare ability for a falcon.
• Merlins make epic migrations, with some birds wintering completely across the equator in South America.
• Peregrine Falcons and Merlins are known to hybridize where their ranges overlap.
• Male Merlins perform dramatic aerial dives during courtship displays.
• Merlins rarely take birds in flight, more often pouncing from perches.

There is still much to learn about these charismatic falcons. Tracking studies of migrating Merlins have revealedamazing long-distance flights. Kestrels serve as indicator species of grassland health. And backyard nest boxes have helped bolster kestrel populations while providing enjoyment for suburban bird enthusiasts.

Why are kestrels and merlins important ecologically?

Kestrels and Merlins fill vital ecological roles as predators:

• They help regulate populations of small mammals and birds which may become agricultural pests otherwise.
• As predators near the top of food chains, their presence and success signals healthy ecosystem function.
• They help limit rodents that can spread diseases like hantavirus and Lyme disease.
• Scavenging on carrion provides an important ecosystem service.
• Cavities created by kestrels provide future nesting sites for other cavity nesters.

Both kestrel and Merlin populations can be barometers of environmental threats like pesticides or habitat loss. And their acrobatic hunting skills provide valuable lessons about adaptation. Maintaining healthy populations contributes to the balance of functioning wildlife communities.

How can we attract kestrels and merlins?

Here are some tips for providing habitat to encourage kestrels and Merlins in your area:

• Put up nest boxes designed specifically for kestrels in open areas.
• Leave dead snags and trees with natural cavities for nesting and perching.
• Plant fence rows, patches of native grasses and shrubs to provide perches.
• Reduce or eliminate pesticide use which reduces prey populations.
• Leave brush piles to encourage rodents for prey.
• Install perches like poles near fields, meadows and wetlands.
• Provide a source of water like a fountain or bird bath.

Even simple actions like avoiding mowing roadsides until after nesting season can benefit kestrels. Learn the local habitat needs of each species in your region to tailor your conservation efforts. With some planning and effort, you may be rewarded with a pair of kestrels or Merlins successfully raising young on your property.

Conclusion

American Kestrels and Merlins provide accessible opportunities to observe spectacular falcons across much of North America. Their natural adaptability allows them to thrive in proximity to humans when suitable habitat exists. Providing open areas with abundant perches, reducing pesticide use, and putting up nest boxes can help local populations persist. The next time you’re driving through farmland or an open field, keep scanning those telephone wires for a glimpse of an acrobatic kestrel or speedy Merlin.