Subspecies: The Southeastern American Kestrel (Falco sparverius paulus). I had no idea a subspecies of the American Kestrel existed here in Florida. Its a non migratory falcon of central Florida and the southeastern U.S. It is threatened here in Florida due to decline of its habitat and nesting areas, which is open savannah, sandhills, prairies and pasture land and dead snags.
Southeastern American Kestrel male in adult plumage.
Southeastern American Kestrel female with eggs.
Male American Kestrels have blue-gray wings, while females are slightly larger and have brownish wings. Both sexes have brownish backs and buffy-white, or off-white, undersides with a black flecking, and have distinct black marks extending downward below the eyes. A high-pitched call, "klee-klee-klee" or "killy-killy-killy," is frequently given in flight.
The northern kestrel subspecies (Falco sparverius) occurs throughout most of North America but is only found in Florida during the winter (September through March). Our resident kestrel subspecies (Falco sparverius paulus) is called the Southeastern American Kestrel because it is a year-round resident of open habitats in the southeastern United States. Once widely distributed throughout seven southeastern states, the Southeastern American Kestrel today occurs primarily in Florida but can be found elsewhere in patches distributed in the coastal plains of South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana.
3 day old Southeastern American Kestrels.
This kestrel eats mostly large insects. During its nesting season it eats large lizards. Sightings according to e-bird are in the area around Orlando, Fl, Agusta Ga and Memphis, Tn.. on the Florida Fish and Wildlife website it shows some sightings in Florida as far south as northern Martin County, north to the Florida/Georgia state line, over to the Florida Panhandle, and along the west coast from Ft Myers, as well as inland.
Twenty day old Southeastern American Kestrels.
These southeastern American Kestrels are slightly larger than a Florida Scrub Jay which is 11" and smaller than a mourning dove which is 12". The American Kestrel is 9" in height for comparison. The way to tell them apart in Florida from the American Kestrel is the time of year when they are spotted, if you see a kestrel from May to July it is mostly like a Southeastern American Kestrel, as the American Kestrels are only here in the winter. I have been seeing a lot of American Kestrels this winter.
Male Southeastern American Kestrel in flight.
Information on them is scant that I could find..If you would like to read more about them
follow this link, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.
All photos from the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
I may or may not be around..a crazy week. So consider this an open thread.
My painted bunting in molt has been missing at the feeder that past week...hope he shows up again.