Falcons

American Kestrel

The American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, is our nation’s smallest falcon with a wingspan of no more than 24 inches. It is a common sight throughout the US including in Florida from the panhandle to the central part of the state. Kestrels are common winter visitors in southern Florida.
Look for American Kestrels in areas that are open with a few trees and low-growing vegetation. Kestrels adapt to human-created pastures and parks. Longleaf pine forests are perfect habitats for breeding.
An American Kestrel’s diet is made up of mostly insects such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, and beetles. They will also eat small birds and rodents including lizards, frogs, mice, bats, and songbirds. Most often the Kestrel will swoop down from a perch to catch prey. When in open areas, the kestrel will fly over the area and catch the prey in flight. Kestrels generally hunt during the day.
Males search for places suitable for a nest. He will show the female a variety of options including cavities in a tree such as an old woodpecker hole, crevices in buildings, or human-provided nesting boxes. The female will choose the nest and lay 4-5 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for up to a month. The male provides most of the food until the young fledge when they are about 1 month old.
Although American Kestrels are currently abundant, there is still cause for concern. Clearing of land for development, cutting down the dead trees they rely on for nesting sites, and pesticides that destroy their food sources have caused their populations to decline by 1.39% each year between 1966 and 2017. (North American Breeding Bird Survey.) This puts them on track for a population decline of 50% by 2075.
Consider putting up a nest box for a pair of American Kestrels. Learn who is running for office in your city, county, and state. Ask what their platform is on environmental justice. Advocate for Florida’s wildlife including American Kestrels and their habitats before it’s too late. Because: Extinct is Forever.
Photo Credit: David Gale
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Peregrine Falcon

The Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, is one of the fastest birds in the world and may reach speeds up to 238 miles per hour when swooping down on prey. From hummingbirds to Sandhill cranes, birds are the major source of food for the Peregrine Falcon. Bats, other small mammals, and insects add variety to their diets. The falcon will perch high in a tree or soar high in the sky while looking for food. From 300-3000 feet, the falcon will begin its stoop, dive upon the bird, and in a blink of an eye, stun it by hitting it hard or grabbing the prey with its feet. The power behind the speed of the falcon’s flight allows it to strike a bird in the air and cause it to fall to the ground. A quick bite through the neck kills the bird. Rock pigeons are easy prey near cities while shorebirds and ducks are a favorite meal along Florida’s coasts.
Between 1950 and 1970, DDT poisoning caused the Peregrine Falcon to be declared an Endangered Species. The North American Breeding Bird Survey now considers the population to be stabilized.
Although Peregrine Falcons can be found on 6 continents, they are still an uncommon sight and in Florida can be seen on rare occasions during winter.
Fun Fact: Peregrine means wanderer. Northern breeders migrate from the Arctic tundra all the way to South America.
Photo Credit: David Gale
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Northern Crested Caracara

Caracaras are in the falcon family and are excellent hunters although they behave a lot like vultures. They are often seen eating carrion or scavaging around campsites. They tend to hunt small vulnerable animals that are injured but will also eat fruit.

These birds are commonly found in central and south America but have found a home at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. This populate is known as a relict population that was previously found in the vast oak savannas throughout Florida. As those areas were altered through human disturbance, Caracaras found a home at Florida’s largest true prairie.

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