They typically weigh no more than about half a pound, according to the Cornell Lab or Ornithology. Instead, they are closer in size to a crow, standing about 10 inches to 14 inches tall with a wingspan of about 2 feet. Merlins are small falcons, but not as small as the American kestrel. They themselves can be preyed upon by larger raptors, including Cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks and barn owls, as well as some snake species. They mostly eat smaller prey like insects and small rodents, but they also sometimes eat lizards, frogs and snakes and are even capable of killing prey larger than themselves, like squirrels. They are commonly seen perched up high on utility lines and poles, especially in agricultural areas. They nest in cavities but can't make their own, so they look for old woodpecker nests, nesting boxes, crevices in rocks and other structures, and nooks in buildings. Kestrels mostly live in grasslands with little tree cover, and they often live near more populated areas, Cornell Lab reports.
Kestrels from more northern regions do migrate south for winter, however. These falcons are the most common of our three local species, and they live in Illinois year-round, IDNR reports. They also have black striping on their faces. Both males and females have lighter-colored breasts with dark barring on their wings and backs. Males have blue-gray heads and wings, while females are more reddish brown, the Cornell Lab reports. Kestrels are among the most colorful falcons. For comparison, consider that a hockey puck and a billiards ball each weigh about 5 ounces. They only weigh between 3 ounces and 6 ounces. They are generally between 8 inches and 12 inches long with a wingspan of between 20 inches and 24 inches. American kestrels are the smallest falcon in North America, about the same size as a mourning dove, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We think of falcons as large, imposing birds, but not all are. Read on to learn more about each of our three local falcon species. They are also generally fast flyers, another skill that helps them hunt. They generally mate with the same partner for life, the Smithsonian reports. Artistic depictions of falconry date back more than 3,500 years to ancient Mongolia and Mesopotamia.įalcons are mostly solitary species, living alone except to mate and nest. Historically, humans have used falcons to help them hunt for small animals and birds, a practice called falconry, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
The very things that make them falcons and raptors - their useful beaks and talons and keen eyesight - help them hunt for prey. Like all raptors, falcons are carnivores. Other falcons that reside in the United States include Aplomado falcons, gyrfalcons and prairie falcons.
Bureau of Land Management. Illinois is home to three kinds of falcons: American kestrels, merlins and peregrine falcons. But there's another kind of raptor we see that can be just as imposing as hawks, eagles and owls.įalcons are also part of the raptor family, a group of birds characterized by their hooked beaks, sharp talons and good eyesight, according to the U.S. Maybe even owls, which are known for their fierce hunting abilities. If you think about large, imposing birds that we see soaring above or perched on high while scanning for a meal, raptors like hawks and eagles probably come to mind.
0 kommentar(er)
