american american smallest common falcon north_america range size subspecies sex varying size weight blue jay mourning dove ranges south_america established species evolved seventeen subspecies adapted different environments habitats americas exhibits sexual size females moderately larger plumage sexes noticeable barring plumage colorful attractive juveniles similar plumage adults american usually hunts energy fashion scanning ground prey ambush hunts air air rapid wing beats prey diet typically consists insects mice small birds broad diet contributed wide success species nests trees cliffs buildings structures female lays seven eggs sexes help breeding range extends central western alaska northern canada nova scotia south north_america central mexico caribbean local central_america widely distributed south_america birds breeding canada northern united_states migrate south winter occasional western europe based appearance behavior years considered member primarily european african clade genus recent dna analysis shows american actually genetically closely related larger american falcon falcon prairie falcon species renamed result genetic analyses actually phylogenetic sense instead process evolution fit similar small prey niche ecosystem true left similar physical characteristics hunting methods american common bird especially strong larger proper training weight control allows american effective hunters birds size range occasional success birds approximately twice weight description traditional classification american smallest america american sexually overlap plumage coloration sexes bird ranges length wingspan female larger male larger typically larger subspecies northern subspecies tend larger sizes large northern female twice size small southern male male typically weighs female standard measurements wing bone long tail physically american muscular larger pectoral flight muscles american body weight compared strongest flying wings moderately long fairly narrow point muscular body type adapted energy ambush hunting spending large amounts energy consuming time wing getting long tail chases bird prey size strong swiftly dispatch prey lean build energy strategy allows lower daily food intake strongly strength commonly bird prey large occasionally larger success body style hunting strategy reflected high success species densely large range americas flight american dramatic swift muscular efficient adaptation broader diet available smaller prey need food day resulted contrast species sexes differ plumage size males blue grey wings black spots white black barring barring lower half belly flanks white black spotting tail white tip black band wings female american dark brown barring females buff heavy brown tail noticeably different male color numerous narrow dark black bars juveniles exhibit coloration patterns similar adults sexes head white bluish grey narrow vertical black facial markings head black spots found white function spots debated commonly accepted theory act false eyes help protect bird potential attackers american basic usually delivered rapid series upset excited wide variety situations heard sexes larger females typically lower pitched voices males primarily associated feeding activities involve interaction male female birds including courtship feeding feeding produce calls similar adults days old taxonomy sixth edition published commonly american hawk mistaken connection genus sixth edition corrected officially renaming bird american names use including hawk diet hawk distinct noted introduction dna analysis shows american actually genetically closely related larger american true based physical similarity established nature american little impetus change change future continued genetic research precisely determines evolutionary history american genus entire genus actually set species closely related artificial significant natural species occurred past evolution closely related set species precise evolutionary genetic analysis species basal species genus difficult render american scientific given 18th century work genus refers hooked shape specific means pertaining referring bird small size hunting typical prey seventeen subspecies american recognized generally based plumage size described nominate subspecies found united_states canada mexico described howe king found louisiana florida described found southern baja california described found southern mexico northern honduras described found honduras nicaragua described found cuba southern central bahamas described found hispaniola jamaica described found puerto_rico lesser antilles described found netherlands antilles described found venezuela northern brazil described found eastern colombia northwest venezuela described found western colombia described found northern ecuador described found southwest ecuador peru northern chile described found chile described found peru chile argentina described found northeast brazil south eastern ecology behavior american found wide variety habitats including meadows open regions found urban suburban areas habitat include open space hunting nesting natural man american able live diverse conditions ranging tropics central_america elevations bird distributed northern canada alaska southernmost tip south_america del found americas mentioned classification genetically inaccurate occurred denmark malta azores american canada northern united_states typically migrate south winter going far central_america caribbean birds breed south north latitude usually year round residents migration depends local weather conditions choice habitat varies sex females found open areas males non breeding season common explanation behavior larger females arrive preferred habitat exclude males territory american long lived lifespan years wild birds oldest banded wild bird years months captive live years study humans accounted reported deaths included direct killing predation including larger birds prey accounted likely biased reported deaths usually found near areas populated humans feeding american feed largely small animals mice small birds reported killed snakes bats able maintain high population broad scope diet american primary mode hunting waiting prey come near bird seen fields objects trees overhead power lines fence posts hunts air rapid wing beats scanning ground prey hunting techniques include low flight fields chasing insects birds air prey caught ground occasionally birds flight striking head tail makes direct flight prey grab like red tailed hawk american conserve energy hunt pick attacks care position odds success breeding season bird carry large prey mate young study found american pair ways costs energy acquisition particular situation example success rate catching prey decreases significantly particular area bird different area reproduction american sexually mature spring migratory populations males arrive breeding ground females female mate pair bonds strong permanent pairs usually use previous nesting sites consecutive years gives birds advantage younger invading individuals familiar hunting grounds neighbors predators features site males perform elaborate dive displays advertise territory attract mate displays consist climbs calls peaks females weeks arrival nesting site thought stimulate food transfers male female occur weeks prior egg laying weeks american cavity able adapt wide variety nesting situations generally prefer natural trees closed tops tight fitting entrances provide maximum protection eggs young occasionally nest holes created large use abandoned nests birds red tailed hawks recorded nesting cliff building tops abandoned american commonly utilize nesting boxes seven eggs typically laid approximately hours apart average egg size larger average birds body size eggs white cream color brown grey usually lasts days mainly responsibility female male time eggs lost typically replaced days hatching takes place days able sit days grow quickly reaching adult weight days days wings develop able leave nest young adult breed year old species approximately year life wild ecological terms reproductive pattern american small bird selection strategy selection theory selective pressures drive evolution directions selection selected species place emphasis high growth rate typically exploiting crowded ecological produce offspring relatively low probability surviving adulthood high low contrast selected species display traits associated living close carrying capacity typically strong competitors crowded invest heavily fewer offspring relatively high probability surviving adulthood low high extremes american species lean selected able breed year old non breeding adults population larger population growth rate high relative larger typically lean selected stress physiology weather american useful scientific studies animal physiology typically captured method raised nest boxes experiments rate found increase response rainfall ambient temperatures responses weather temperature vary sex increase oxygen consumption rate cold wet conditions counteract heat loss environmental disturbance american response environmental stress measured blood concentration produced hpa axis releases stored energy essential body functions extended periods elevated blood levels direct energy away growth reproduction high levels traffic disturbance human development surrounding american nests found increase stress leading reproductive failure successful nests typically experience higher stress response environmental human disturbance suggesting tolerate considerable degree human activity near nest environmental american toxic chemical runoff prey concentrate high levels blood wild subject altered immune response group industrial flame factories environment accumulate body tissues cell immune response decreases efficiency result respond sufficiently invading addition certain suppress growth development american status conservation american likely abundant falcon north_america total population difficult local populations change quickly resource availability count data indicate north american breeding population experiencing long term gradual sustained declines regions new_england coastal california exhibiting rapid declines count data migration corridors indicate regional population declines largely data north american population estimated million pairs central south american populations large smaller estimate birds north_america population increase occurred 18th 19th centuries probably agriculture resulting provided ideal habitat southeastern subspecies declined decrease nest site availability decline result cleared agricultural fields despite american classed concern iucn red list leading non profit organization advancing research conservation birds prey worldwide launched developed maintains web based network citizen professional scientists enter manage consolidate data nest box monitoring programs database researchers model understand relationships nesting parameters occupancy survival productivity weight exposure environmental environmental factors land use landscape composition configuration climate conditions drought point sources environmental breeding season features live streaming video feed nest box located campus idaho use important use american considered bird careful weight control needed maintain desire aggressively hunt takes skill experienced best performance species capable report highly reliable normal game aggressive individuals capable capturing prey approximately twice body weight allowing occasional capture true game birds dove interested reliable taking game prefer larger hawks advantage american offers experienced simple urban requiring large tracts land use hunting dogs form referred micro micro small species commonly micro sharp hawk smallest european true american requires adapting strengths weaknesses bird small falcon size muscular small athletic swift adapted ambush hunting short chases longer aerial chases larger adopt limits effective experienced author book american article comparing summed abilities follows thin winged flat powered lack acceleration compared affection thousands kills prove necessarily differences comparing red tailed hawk harris equally negative points fact know good trained red tails chief variable choosing land live open country access good pasture cattle plan hunt town suburb especially plan hawk car recommend consideration coming close second intended quarry dove open country best suited falcon prove effective close extremely vulnerable open best prey holds true house exception thick cover better quarry slip feel american perfect committed attack trained tend follow end cover chase birds foot quarry twice size let voluntarily small feet written strongest feet size simple fact american hold better average tackle larger quarry jack male american train easily larger particularly falcon art waiting perform diving prey individual master skill train climb position balloons learn climb common hunting techniques slip spotted game fist release vehicle window close spotted quarry techniques natural fit methods wild american alert protect falcon larger predators attack particularly distracted ground captured prey domestic cats dogs greatest threat attack falcon ground cooper hawk known attack mid sized american sufficient size strength carry away reported successful recovering unharmed acting quickly larger hawk releasing american bred captivity use easier breed sufficiently common passage birds year relatively easy trap wild caught fairly quickly usually eating hand day capture training week ready hunt weeks american allow picked body hand accepting hand useful checking treating bird injury illness migratory native united_states protected migratory bird treaty act american illegal possess permit permit united_states canada mexico cited books clark field guide hawks north_america new_york mifflin isbn jon birds high manual birds temperate zone south_america denmark isbn smallest falcon american life birds nature trails book college station isbn american falcon names boulder isbn
American kestrel