American Kestrel - Falco sparverius

American Kestrels are not difficult to find in Southern California. We saw them in the different parks and nature reserves. For a raptor it has a beautiful coloring, especially that of a male. They are the smallest members of the Falcon family in North America although their range extends all the way to South America. It's diet consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice and an occasional small bird like a sparrow.

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
Peck Road Water Conservation Park, Arcadia, California
December 3, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-200, f/8, 1/500, handheld