Kestrel

[waltsp]

Seen in my area. It is very wild, open the car door and it takes off!

 

[ToadHill]

Beautiful birds, they used to be called chicken hawks.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Are those the falcon family birds who hoover while hunting? Always liked them.

 

[Travelover]

Beautiful birds, they used to be called chicken hawks.

We called 'em sparrow hawks. They will use a nest box if you care to put one up.

 

[WayneB]

Is that a Coopers Hawk?

 

[themichelob]

What we used to call a "sparrow hawk" and it is a member of the Falcon family. Had one trained as a pet when I was a kid, before we knew better than to rob nests. Regards, Mike

 

[waltsp]

The colorful American Kestrel, also known as the Sparrow Hawk, killy hawk, or windhover, is the smallest and most common North American falcon. Its range extends from Alaska and Canada southward through the Americas to Tierra del Fuego. Some are migratory, but some pairs will remain and defend a wintering territory. Kestrels withdraw from their northern most breeding range in the winter. The American Kestrel is closely related to the European Kestrel.

If you see a small falcon that appears to be hovering on rapid wing beats over a field or an interstate median, this is most likely the bird.

Taken from American Kestrel