Yesterday morning I was thrilled to see this American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I had never before seen this little falcon, but its coloration and markings are awfully distinctive, so I had a pretty good idea what it was.
I was really struck by the small size of this bird, as compared with the Bald Eagles and vultures that I had seen earlier in the day. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Kestrel is about the size and shape of a mourning dove and is the smallest falcon in North America.
As you can tell from the background, it was heavily overcast when I took this shot, so the colors do not pop as much as they would in bright sunlight. One of my viewers on Facebook also noted that this is a female and, as is the case with most bird species, the colors of a female American Kestrel are more muted than those of her male counterpart.
I remember well the location of the tree in which the kestrel was perched, so I will add that location to my already long list of places to check when I visit this wildlife refuge, which has proven to have a pretty amazing variety of species to observe.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It’s nice to see the female. I saw my first kestral this year — a male — and I was surprised by its small size, too. It’s worth checking that tree and the surrounding area frequently. I’ve seen “my” kestral several times since that first look, and it’s always been in the same tree, or another one nearby.
I am hoping there is a male nearby too. Whenever I see a new species, I never know if it will be a :once-in-a-lifetime” occurrence, but I figure if the habitat was good once, there is a chance that it will be good a second time.
That is a little beauty! well caught. Brian
It is surprising how small the American kestrels are. I was on a hike this past Sunday and also had the thrill of seeing a female kestrel. I’ve seen them many times but I always find them so beautiful, and their small body gives them good flying maneuverability. Thanks for sharing your “catch” with us, Mike.