American
kestrels

American kestrels are often seen hunting from power lines and along the grassy areas next to highways. For that reason, KCPL's system of transmission lines provides them with ideal hunting habitat. Cavity nesters by nature, they're at home in tree cavities, but recent decline in wooded areas has limited their nesting habitat. In an effort to help, KCPL placed nesting boxes at substations and along rural distribution lines, helping boost their urban and suburban populations. In return, the kestrels help KCPL by controlling pest species in substations. English sparrows, for one, build large grassy nests in cooling fans, clogging the blades and preventing them from turning. Kestrels force the sparrows out, eliminating the problem. Sometimes, when we help a species in need, they return the favor. American kestrels, or sparrow hawks, are the smallest, most common of North American falcons. They have long, slender wings, rounded heads and short necks and are the only falcon with two vertical, black bars on each side of the head.

kestrels        

Males are brilliantly colored with bluish wings and reddish backs and tails. Females are brownish with streaked and barred plumage. Males average 9 inches in length; females 12 inches. Wing spans may approach two feet. Most common in open grasslands, kestrels often perch on power lines to spot mice, a favorite prey. They also eat large insects and occasionally small birds, snakes, lizards and frogs. Sometimes they hover in the sky while watching for prey scurrying in the grass. Once sighted, they stoop with wings tucked, extending feet at the last instant to strike the prey. Sharp claws enable them to carry the catch to a perch. American kestrels nest in tree cavities, niches in walls and specially-designed nest boxes. In Missouri, they lay four to five eggs in April and the young fly from the nest in June. Pairs will occasionally raise a second brood later in the summer. Although they are migratory, kestrels are found throughout the year in Missouri and Kansas. They're harmed by reduction in grasslands, pesticides and the removal of dead trees used for nesting.

Did you know kestrels...

• females select more open habitats than males during the winter
• are sometimes called "killy hawks" because of their "killy killy killy" call
• take all the water they need from the flesh they eat