American Kestrel:
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is often called the "Sparrow Hawk", a name originating from British settlers in the 1700s because the bird reminded them of their Sparrowhawk back home (Accipiter nisus) which primarily hunted sparrows as their prey. The name "American Kestrel" is from the resemblance to the "Common Kestrel" (Falco tinnunculus, also known as the "Eurasian Kestrel", "European Kestrel", "Old World Kestrel", or simply "Kestrel", a bird approximately 13-15 inches in length, compared to the American Kestrel's 7-8 inches.). The scientific name comes from the Latin word "falx" meaning "scythe" or "falco" meaning "hook-shaped", referring to the shape of the wing and/or the shape of the talons, and "sparverius" meaning "pertaining to a hedge sparrow", or "espervier", a Latinized French word for "sparrow hawk". In other words, "Falco sparverius" means "falcon of the sparrows". The Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America and can fly 60 miles per hour when pursuing prey. Other names referenced to the Kestrel are "Grasshopper Hawk", "Killy Hawk" (for the killy, killy, killy sound they make), "Short-winged Hawk", "Windhover" (for their ability to hover), and "House Hawk" (they will nest in wooden nest boxes).
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"... I observe no difference between the Hawk of this Coast and those of the Atlantic. I have observed the large brown Hawk [most likely the Red-tailed Hawk], the Small or Sparrow hawk
[American Kestrel], and a hawk of an intermediate Size with a long tail and blewish coloured wings, remarkably Swift in flight and very ferce. Sometimes called in the Un. States the hen Hawk
[Northern Harrier].
those birds Seam to be common to every part of this Country in greater or smaller numbers, and the Hawks, Crows, and ravins build their nests is great numbers along the high & inaxcessable clifts of the Columbia, and Lewis's rivers when we passd along them. ..."
[Captain William Clark, March 3, 1806, while at Fort Clatsop]
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Columbia River near Portland International Airport ...
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American Kestrel, female, Columbia River near Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken March 4, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200z.
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American Kestrel, female, Woodland, Washington.
Image taken January 31, 2009.
Canon Rebel XTi, 200z.
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Steigerwald Lake NWR, Washington ...
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American Kestrel, male, Steigerwald Lake NWR, Washington.
Mostly cloudy day with occasional sunbreaks.
Image taken January 31, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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American Kestrel, male, Steigerwald Lake NWR, Washington.
Gorgeous windy sunny cold day.
Image taken February 21, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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American Kestrel, male, Steigerwald Lake NWR, Washington.
Image taken March 13, 2010.
Canon Rebel XTi, 300z.
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Shillapoo Wildlife Area, Vancouver, Washington ...
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Windy day, American Kestrel, female, Shillapoo Wildlife Area, Vancouver, Washington.
Left image taken November 27, 2009.
Right image taken December 11, 2009.
Canon EOS 40d, 400mm.
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American Kestrel, female, Shillapoo Wildlife Area, Vancouver, Washington.
Along LaFramboise Road.
Image taken February 15, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Ridgefield NWR, Washington ...
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